Thailand’s regional strategies revealed at the ASEAN-US summit

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-cha, speaking at the special ASEAN-US summit, revealed Thailand’s regional strategies, which will promote peace and resilience in the post-pandemic era.

He outlined three priorities for the region. First is the promotion of US constructive engagement with ASEAN and other key players in the region. He pointed out that it is important to create an environment of mutual trust, conducive to the post-COVID-19 recovery, between all countries, as is a shift towards humanitarian considerations, to alleviate the ramifications of unrest around the world.

Secondly, Prayut said that there is a need to accelerate economic recovery and to ensure and strengthen a resilient supply chain. To these ends, he invited US businesses to invest in and develop high technology sectors, such as electric vehicles.

The US plans to announce the newly created Indo-Pacific Economic Framework at the upcoming Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) summit in Tokyo. A number of ASEAN members have expressed an interest in joining.

Thirdly, to ensure the success of the first two priorities, it is important to enhance sustainable development through a transition to clean energy and low-carbon societies.

He also urged all countries to work together and adopt a new development approach, which Thailand has strongly advocated, namely the Bio-Circular-Green economic model. As the host of APEC 2022, Thailand has been promoting this concept.

During his visit to Washington, Prayut also met and exchanged views with the Thai community living in the US capital. He provided his audience with the latest information about the situation in Thailand and urged them to contribute to the country’s overall development.

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