BANGKOK, Nov 3 — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Thailand will support free trade in the Asia-Pacific region, innovative development and regional connectivity and infrastructure development at the 26th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting in Beijing Friday and Saturday.
Chutintorn Gongsakdi, director-general of the Department of International Economic Affairs, said the meeting deals with three main topics: “Advancing Regional Economic Integration,” “Promoting Innovative Development, Economic Reform and Growth,” and “Strengthening Comprehensive Connectivity and Infrastructure Development.”
Regarding regional economic integration, Mr Chutintorn said Thailand had always supported APEC’s long-standing idea to establish an Asian-Pacific Free Trade Area (FTAAP) and was ready to back China’s proposal for a clear roadmap to enable it. FTAAP is necessary, he said.
For innovative development, economic reform and growth, Mr Chutintorn said Thailand supported China’s great readiness in principle in terms of science and technologies necessary for developing countries in APEC to overcome their middle income trap.
For regional connectivity, Mr Chutintorn said ASEAN had emphasized it and it was further developed in the APEC. APEC’s infrastructural connectivity would benefit ASEAN because APEC is a big financial source.
The 26th APEC Ministerial Meeting is part of the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Week in China opening Wednesday and extending through Nov 11.
The week includes the Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting Wednesday and Thursday and the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Nov 10 and 11.
