(05/11/2012)
 Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is on a visit to Vientiane, the capital of
the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, on 5-6 November 2012 to attend
the ninth Asia-Europe Meeting, or ASEM 9. Leaders and their representatives from 27 European Union member states, 19 Asian states, the European Commission, and the ASEAN Secretariat are participating in the meeting. An official ceremony will be held during the meeting to welcome three new members, namely Norway, Switzerland, and Bangladesh. With the inclusion of the three new members, the membership of ASEM will be expanded from 48 to 51. The theme of the meeting is “Friends for Peace; Partners for Prosperity.” Among topics of discussions are the fight against protectionism, terrorism, piracy at sea, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as energy security, food security, and water resource management. At the end of the meeting, participants are expected to approve the "Vientiane Declaration on Strengthening Partnership for Peace and Development." The document reaffirms the commitment of the ASEM partners to peace, security, stability, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. As for Thailand, ASEM 9 will provide an opportunity for the Prime Minister to reiterate the Government’s policies and priorities that are connected with the shared interests both regions have. These policies include efforts to mitigate the impacts of the Eurozone crisis and the promotion of sustainable development. With these issues on the table, Thailand’s role as an active and constructive partner for all Asian and European members will be reaffirmed. ASEM is an informal forum for dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe. The objective is to provide a venue for the leaders of Asia and Europe to constructively discuss economic, political, security, and socio-cultural challenges commonly faced by both sides. They may also exchange views on current developments in Europe, Asia, and other regions, as well as exploring new ways to enhance cooperation and to strengthen relations between Asia and Europe in the future. The ASEM partnership accounts for about half of the world's GDP, around 60 percent of the world's population, and up to 60 percent of global trade. The ASEM Summit, the only platform that bridges leaders from the two regions, is held every two years, alternately in Asia and Europe. Thailand hosted the first ASEM, or Asia-Europe Summit, in 1996, and the latest meeting, ASEM 8, was held in Brussels, Belgium, in 2010. During ASEM 9, Prime Minister Yingluck will also have bilateral meetings with some ASEM leaders to boost cooperation in various issues. |
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