Thai PM to push for three main pillars during ASEAN Summit 2012

BAGNKOK, November 17 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says that she will push for the three main pillars of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including political-security, economics and socio-culture, ahead of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015 during the 21st ASEAN Summit and related forums, scheduled to be held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, from November 17-20. Speaking to TNA Saturdaymorning, before flying to Phnom Penh later in the day, Yingluck revealed that the ASEAN Summit 2012 and related forums are divided into two main meetings, including the 21st ASEAN Summit and a meeting between ASEAN and the 10-member bloc's key dialogue partners, comprising China, Japan, South Korea, India and the United States. Yingluck acknowledged that government leaders, during the 21st ASEAN Summit, will discuss work progress under the ASEAN framework, as well as exchange opinions on problems prevailing in the region and on cruxes existing in major countries. On talks with dialogue partners, Yingluck said, ASEAN leaders are expected to confer on the directions of cooperation between ASEAN and those countries, as well as on strengthening ASEAN before the formation of the AEC. According to the Thai prime minister, she plans to raise major issues, including transnational crime, prevention of human trafficking and ways to provide safety to women and children during the regional discussions; while major issues expected to be raised during talks with the ASEAN dialogue partners are expected to focus on free trade agreements (FTAs). The Thai premier is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Myanmar President Thein Sein on the development of the Dawei deep seaport in Myanmar and with her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on a highway construction development linking Myanmar-India-Thailand on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN Summit. (TNA)