Thai PM attends 4th GMS summit in Myanmar

BANGKOK, December 20 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is attending the 4th Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Summit in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw, and calls for the forum to become the main platform for the development of GMS countries and the ASEAN Community. Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovijakchaikul, the Thai premier attended the opening ceremony of the GMS summit held at Myanmar International Convention Centre on Tuesday morning. The meeting gathered leaders, ministers, delegations, and businesses representatives from the six GMS countries namely Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Before the summit kicked off, the leaders of the GMS countries witnessed the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU), including one on the Joint Cooperation in Further Accelerating the Construction of the Information Superhighway and its Application in the GMS, on joint action to reduce HIV vulnerability related to population movement, and on establishing a GMS Freight Transporters Association. They also endorsed the New GMS Strategic Framework for 2012-2022. During the closed-door meeting, the Thai premier said that the GMS Summit and its new strategic framework played an integral role in the formation of the ASEAN Community and stimulation of regional demands, which she said would make the Asia Pacific region an important force for global development. The Thai premier said Thailand attached great importance to the new GMS strategic framework and pledged that it would actively support work with the GMS members and its partnership to support closer cooperation. (TNA)