Thai PM continues regional discussions in Phnom Penh

BANGKOK, November 19 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra continued regional discussions for the second day on Monday, as part of the 21st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related forums held at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. Yingluck attended the 15th ASEAN-Japan Summit, which addressed regional cooperation on trade, investment and tourism and fair development among the ASEAN member states, and then participated in the ASEAN-South Korea Summit, which discussed connectivity and water management, and later the special ASEAN+3 Summit comprising ASEAN members, China, Japan and South Korea, which addressed financial cooperation, food security and a project to establish the East Asia Economic Community in 2020. Yingluck is scheduled to attend the ASEAN-India Summit, which prepares trade and investment agreements and considers the quick construction of highways to link Thailand, Myanmar and India on Monday afternoon. The Thai prime minister will later have bilateral talks with Myanmar President Thein Sein to discuss trade and investment cooperation, especially that concerning the ongoing joint development of the Dawei deep seaport project in Myanmar, followed by a bilateral meeting with her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to push for transnational highway construction in Thailand, Myanmar and India. The Thai prime minister will also ask India to share its scientific, technological, medical and educational expertise with Thailand. The Thai prime minister will later attend the 15th ASEAN-China Summit, followed by bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Premier Yingluck is scheduled to attend the meeting of ASEAN-US leaders Monday evening to discuss food, energy, environmental and human security, as well as disaster possibilities and cooperation on information technology, health, education and energy. (TNA)