Royal Thai Government: Government News on 23 April 2015, The Prime Minister stated that the 2015 Asian-African Summit was held to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Bandung Conference, and the 10th Anniversary of the New Asia – African Strategic Partnership (NAASP). Representatives of over 110 countries attended the Summit including 25 national leaders, such as the Presidents of Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Prime Ministers of Pakistan, Japan, and Malaysia, to name a few. Thailand is one of the founding members of the Asian-African Summit, and has been actively engaged in and supported the Spirit of Bandung ever since the first Asia-Africa Summit in 1955 which was attended by the then- Foreign Minister of Thailand, His Royal Highness Prince Wan Waithyakon.
According to PM Prayut, the theme and objective of the Summit was “Strengthening South-South Cooperation to Promote World Peace and Prosperity”. Asia and Africa are stronger when are linked politically and economically. Today, Asia accounts for 26% of Africa’s trade flows. Connectivity also plays a vital role with eight major airlines linking twenty-eight Asian and African cities. Considering its geopolitical status, Thailand can be a bridge to connect Asia and Africa.
In addition, the following three documents was announced at the Summit: 1) Draft Bandung Message 2015- Strengthening South-South Cooperation to Promote World Peace and Prosperity. Gist is to express mutual intent in promoting South-South cooperation through the bridging of Asian and African nations to stronger partnership both in political and security, economic and trade, as well as social and cultural dimensions in attempt to achieve peace, prosperity, and sustainable development, to eradicate poverty, and address regional and global challenges. 2) Declaration on Reinvigorating the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership. Gist is to express intent in strengthening NAASP as a mechanism to connect Asia and Africa, as well as to expand and improve cooperation framework to bring the partnership to the next level. The Spirit of Bandung will be reinvigorated as guideline for future cooperation between Asia and Africa. 3) Declaration on Palestine. Gist is to express support for the process toward independence of Palestine.
The Thai Prime Minister also delivered a statement at the Asian-African Summit. He raised the issue of connectivity which has an important role in strengthening cooperation between Asia and Africa both in security and economic dimensions. Thailand could bridge Asia and Africa through such existing regional institutions as the ASEAN-led frameworks. It stands ready to share experiences with the international friends in the Sufficiency Economy philosophy for sustainable development. PM Prayut stated that the Thai Government’s Thai-Africa Initiative was also underway in a bid to demonstrate Thai commitment in fostering stronger multi-dimensional ties between Thailand and Africa.
During the participation at the Asian-African Summit, PM Prayut took the opportunity to have bilateral meetings with the leaders of the State of Palestine, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Indonesia, and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Tunisia. He announced Thailand’s standpoint to endorse global peace and prosperity. Thailand’s support to the State of Palestine includes trainings in agriculture and transport, and capacity building (human resources management, labor skill development, developments of tourism, SMEs, and agriculture.) PM Prayut added that Thailand also supported the peace process in the Middle East through the United Nations’ resolution, and hoped that direct negotiation could be resumed soon.
With regard to an audience with His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, PM Prayut marveled close relations between the royal families of the two countries which greatly contributed to the progress of mutual relations and cooperation between Thailand and Jordan. He also thanked Jordan for taking good care of approximately 600 Thai students who are studying in the country, and discussed promotion of tourism between the two countries.
On the bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Taieb Baccouche of the Republic of Tunisia, the Thai Prime Minister congratulated Tunisia for its success in political transformation, and thanked Tunisia for its help in evacuating Thai labors out of Libya on two occasions, in 2011 and July-September 2014. He also expressed his condolences on the recent terror attack at Tunisia’s national museum. Both PM Prayut and the Tunisian Foreign Minister agreed upon the promotion of mutual cooperation between the two countries, especially in economy, trade and investment. Thailand stands ready to share its knowledge and experiences in the fields of its expertise, particularly education, tourism, fishery, public health, and business management.
In his bilateral meeting with President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, PM Prayut expressed Thailand’s readiness to cooperate with Indonesia in promoting comprehensive relations, as the 1st and 2nd largest economies of ASEAN, for mutual and regional interests. He added that the problem of IUU had been prioritized and placed as a national agenda. The Thai Government was serious in tackling problems related to Thai fishing sector in a comprehensive manner, be it, illegal labor, IUU, marine resources conservation, and promotion of trade and investment cooperation. Thailand stands ready to cooperate with Indonesia both at multi-lateral and regional levels in order for the ASEAN Community to become the region of peace and prosperity.
