Thailand to host ASEM symposium next week

BANGKOK, May 20 (TNA) - Thailand will host an ASEM symposium on “Inter-Regional Partnership for Sustainable Development” on May 25-26, said Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Bussadee Santipitak. The spokeswoman said Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha announced Thailand’s initiative to host an ASEM symposium on sustainable development in 2017 to serve as a platform to exchange experiences between Asia and Europe in sustainable development when he was attending the 11th ASEM summit in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia in July last year. The symposium’s objective is to promote cooperation between Asia and Europe in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition to Thai speakers, eight panelists from ASEM members, namely the EU, China, Germany, Vietnam, Finland, Japan, Switzerland and the Phillipines, have been invited to share their experiences in sustainable development field, said the ministry’s statement. It is expected that the symposium has attracted more than 170 participants. On May 25, the symposium will be divided into two sessions. The morning session will focus on the role of ASEM in strengthening cooperation between Asia and Europe in the field of sustainable development. The panelists will share their experiences and opinions in approaches towards achieving the SDGs in the afternoon session. On the last day of the event, participants will join an excursion to Khao Hin Sorn Royal Development Study Center in Chachoengsao province to learn more in details about the royally –initiated development projects in line with the sufficiency economy philosophy. (TNA)