Prime Minister’s Visit to Russia for the 20th APEC Summit

(07/09/2012)

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to visit Russia from 7 to 9 September 2012 to attend the 20th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting. APEC 2012 takes place on Russky Island in Vladivostok under the theme “Integrate to Grow, Innovate to Prosper.” It focuses on four major topics: trade and investment liberalization and regional economic integration, strengthening food security, establishing reliable supply chains, and intensive cooperation to foster innovation growth. Prime Minister Yingluck will join two retreat sessions, one on “Establishing Reliable Supply Chains,” and the other on “Ensuring Food Security and Encouraging Innovation Growth.” She will take this opportunity to emphasize Thailand’s vision and exchange views with other APEC leaders. The Prime Minister will also attend an APEC leaders’ working lunch for discussion on the global economy and the situation in the APEC region and meet members of the APEC Business Advisory Council. APEC was established in 1989 with Thailand as one of its founding members. It consists of 21 member economies, accounting for 53 percent of the world’s GDP and about 43 percent of world trade. Trade between Thailand and other APEC members account for 70 percent of the country’s international trade. APEC’s objective is to enhance trade and investment liberalization in the Asia-Pacific region in order to attain the ultimate goal of establishing a free trade area in this region. Prior to the APEC summit, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul represented Thailand at 24th APEC Ministerial Meeting on 5-6 September. He reiterated Thailand's commitment to working together with other APEC economies to improve supply chain performance in the APEC region by 10 percent by 2015. He also underlined connectivity as key to developing reliable supply chains, and pointed out that Thailand, as part of the ASEAN's regional connectivity initiatives, could make significant contribution to the development of logistics in the Asia-Pacific region. The Foreign Minister encouraged APEC members to accelerate efforts to strengthen connectivity in all dimensions, including taking measures related to both software and hardware connectivity, which would complement the work undertaken in the ASEAN and ASEAN+3 frameworks. He urged APEC economies to promote seamless cross-border logistics by improving transportation arrangements and harmonizing trade formalities. At the conclusion of the meeting, Foreign Minister Surapong expressed Thailand's readiness to work with Indonesia, the host of APEC 2013. He will accompany Prime Minister Yingluck during her participation in the 20th APEC Leaders' Meeting on 8-9 September 2012.