Danang, Vietnam: Thailand supports the leading role of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) in promoting free and open trade and investment, supporting the multilateral trading system, addressing quality issues and providing a platform for capacity building and discussion of new ideas for development, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told the Apec Ministerial Meeting (AMM) on Wednesday.
He said that Thailand urges the 21-member Apec to redouble its efforts in communicating the concrete benefits of free trade and regional integration.
Apec's post-2020 vision should be forward-looking, inclusive, and align well with the Sustainable Development Goals, he told the meeting ahead of the Apec Economic Leaders' meeting on Saturday.
Thailand would like to see Apec members discuss skills in the digital age, connectivity, the ageing society, 'green growth' strategies, and service and investment facilitation, he said. It also agrees to continue discussing the Free Trade Agreement of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), modernising micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and improving domestic regulations and food trade issues, he said.
Commerce Minister Apiradee Tantraporn also attended the AMM.
Meanwhile, on the sideline of the Apec Summit, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was scheduled to have bilateral meetings with the leaders from Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong.
