Thai PM urges ASEAN-China connectivity for mutual benefits

BANGKOK, November 20 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has emphasized ASEAN-China connectivity and cooperation for mutual benefits, covering cooperation in the South China Sea. Yingluck told the 15th ASEAN-China Summit held as part of the 21st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, on Monday evening that ASEAN-China partnership is a key to prosperity, peace and security. Yingluck, who was among the ASEAN leaders meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao at the full-panel discussion, proposed that the 10-member ASEAN bloc and China exchange the visits of their security authorities and cooperate on new security issues, especially narcotics, human trafficking, illegal arms trade, money laundering and cybercrimes. Regarding issues in the South China Sea, Yingluck said that Thailand supports a joint communiqué marking the 10th anniversary of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), suggesting that compliance with the declaration will create confidence and mutual trust, which is the basis for friendship, cooperation and mutual benefits. The Thai prime minister noted that regional security can also help China reach the goal of increasing the value of trade to 500 billion US dollars and the value of new Chinese investment projects to 10 billion US dollars by 2015. The Thai premier also asked China to import farm products from ASEAN and to promote free trade in East Asia through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). (TNA)