ID :
150172
Wed, 11/17/2010 - 10:10
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http://m.oananews.org//node/150172
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Thai PM leaves Bangkok for 4th ACMECS summit in Phnom Penh
BANGKOK, Nov 17 - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva left Bangkok early Wednesday morning to participate in the 4th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh to follow up implementation of cooperation frameworks among member countries.
Mr Abhisit and his entourage left Bangkok for Phnom Penh at 6.30am to participate in a one-day summit, starting with the opening ceremony, followed by the ACMECS Leaders’ summit in the morning. Leaders will also meet representatives from the business sector and will have an audience with Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni in the afternoon.
At the ACMECS Summit, the leaders of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand will review the progress of past cooperation and discuss the direction of their future cooperation.
Mr Abhisit is also scheduled to meet separately with the prime ministers of Laos PDR and Cambodia to follow up on the bilateral relations and co-operation.
The Thai premier will witness the signing ceremony of the Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Ordinary Passports between the Thai and Cambodian governments by foreign ministers of the two countries.
Mr Abhisit said earlier that the ACMECS cooperation is currently linked more with other cooperation frameworks such as the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), which includes China (Yunnan), and GMS+Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
He said Thailand acts as an aid provider for projects under ACMECS and is playing a role in developing several aspects among the member countries; for instance, on agriculture. Also high on the agenda are contract farming and a push for cooperation regarding rice exports in particular.
During the meeting, the five countries will adopt the Phnom Penh Declaration on a shared Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, which offers a cooperative partnership for development, and the ACMECS Plan of Action 2010-2012, which expresses their political intention, vision, and guidelines for cooperation among ACMECS countries in eight areas: trade and investment facilitation, agriculture, transportation, human resources development, industry and energy, tourism, public health, and environment.
"Thailand stands firm to support and cooperate with its neighbouring countries on infrastructure, agriculture, education and human development. This will help the five countries to have common ground when negotiating with other cooperation frameworks," Mr Abhisit said.
The Thai premier will have a bilateral meeting with his Lao counterpart Bouasone Bouphavanh to discuss various issues regarding Mr Abhisit's planned visit to Vientiane next month, including power buying, energy and dam construction, as well as infrastructure on a train project, on which Thailand assisted Laos after China had agreed to help both the Lao PDR and Thailand.
Also taking place is the 4th bilateral meeting between the Thai prime minister and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen for good relations and in order to solve unresolved conflicts between the two nations. Both leaders will attend the signing ceremony of the Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Ordinary Passports between the Thai and the Cambodian kingdoms, to be signed by both nations' foreign ministers.
Mr Hun Sen of Cambodia will host a dinner for Mr Abhisit in the evening before the Thai premier departs for Bangkok.
The prime minister is He is expected to arrive in Thailand at 21.50pm.
ACMECS as an organisation draws together mainland Southeast Asia's three great river systems and five riverine nations. The Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) was founded in 2003 in order to utilise member countries’ diverse strengths and to promote balanced development in the sub-region. (MCOT online news)
Mr Abhisit and his entourage left Bangkok for Phnom Penh at 6.30am to participate in a one-day summit, starting with the opening ceremony, followed by the ACMECS Leaders’ summit in the morning. Leaders will also meet representatives from the business sector and will have an audience with Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni in the afternoon.
At the ACMECS Summit, the leaders of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand will review the progress of past cooperation and discuss the direction of their future cooperation.
Mr Abhisit is also scheduled to meet separately with the prime ministers of Laos PDR and Cambodia to follow up on the bilateral relations and co-operation.
The Thai premier will witness the signing ceremony of the Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Ordinary Passports between the Thai and Cambodian governments by foreign ministers of the two countries.
Mr Abhisit said earlier that the ACMECS cooperation is currently linked more with other cooperation frameworks such as the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), which includes China (Yunnan), and GMS+Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
He said Thailand acts as an aid provider for projects under ACMECS and is playing a role in developing several aspects among the member countries; for instance, on agriculture. Also high on the agenda are contract farming and a push for cooperation regarding rice exports in particular.
During the meeting, the five countries will adopt the Phnom Penh Declaration on a shared Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, which offers a cooperative partnership for development, and the ACMECS Plan of Action 2010-2012, which expresses their political intention, vision, and guidelines for cooperation among ACMECS countries in eight areas: trade and investment facilitation, agriculture, transportation, human resources development, industry and energy, tourism, public health, and environment.
"Thailand stands firm to support and cooperate with its neighbouring countries on infrastructure, agriculture, education and human development. This will help the five countries to have common ground when negotiating with other cooperation frameworks," Mr Abhisit said.
The Thai premier will have a bilateral meeting with his Lao counterpart Bouasone Bouphavanh to discuss various issues regarding Mr Abhisit's planned visit to Vientiane next month, including power buying, energy and dam construction, as well as infrastructure on a train project, on which Thailand assisted Laos after China had agreed to help both the Lao PDR and Thailand.
Also taking place is the 4th bilateral meeting between the Thai prime minister and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen for good relations and in order to solve unresolved conflicts between the two nations. Both leaders will attend the signing ceremony of the Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Ordinary Passports between the Thai and the Cambodian kingdoms, to be signed by both nations' foreign ministers.
Mr Hun Sen of Cambodia will host a dinner for Mr Abhisit in the evening before the Thai premier departs for Bangkok.
The prime minister is He is expected to arrive in Thailand at 21.50pm.
ACMECS as an organisation draws together mainland Southeast Asia's three great river systems and five riverine nations. The Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) was founded in 2003 in order to utilise member countries’ diverse strengths and to promote balanced development in the sub-region. (MCOT online news)
