People encouraged learning Chinese

CHIANG RAI, January 29 (TNA) - Thais living in northern border provinces are encouraged to learn Chinese language as the country along with its fellow members in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are to form an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. About 120 linguists and researchers from China and six countries situated along the Mekong River basin attended a seminar, hosted to promote language exchange cooperation among countries in the region, in preparations for the formation of AEC. Realising that there are already several cultures and languages in the region, the seminar was organised by Chiang Rai Rajabhat University in cooperation with Beijing’s Minzu University and Yuxi University of China with an aim to promote languages spoken in the Mekong River region. Associate Professor Manop Pasitwilaitham, rector of Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, said after presiding over the opening of the seminar that joint research by Thai and Chinese academics would lead to more study and exchange of language understanding after the AEC is lifted off the ground. Peoples living along the Mekong River basin should know more than one language -- native language and another one, said Dr. Manop. Besides Thai and hilltribe languages spoken in Chiang Rai, Chinese is considered vital because the province is considered as gateway to China and neighbouring countries. (TNA)