NAY PYI TAW, 14 November 2014 – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has met with the Chinese premier as part of the ASEAN-China Summit in Myanmar and expressed support for the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Gen Prayut joined other ASEAN leaders and the ASEAN Secretary-General in the discussion with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang at the 17th ASEAN-China Summit in Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday. The Thai premier encouraged both sides to quickly proceed with the negotiation plan for enhancing the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) while asking China to expand its agricultural trade with ASEAN countries in a bid to uplift farmers’ quality of life and strengthen the regional agricultural sector.
Gen Prayut highlighted the benefit of establishing transport connectivity between ASEAN and China, saying it would greatly reinforce their joint economic power. He, therefore, affirmed that Thailand was supportive of China’s planned development of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Coupled with the founding of the AIIB and advancement of the FTA, the Thai premier noted that China’s proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative also reflected the country’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with ASEAN.
Regarding the South China Sea dispute, both ASEAN and China affirmed their determination to prevent the problem from escalating. Gen Prayut voiced satisfaction with the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) as well as the progress of negotiations on the formal code of conduct (COC). He then vowed that Thailand would continue to do its best in playing the role of coordinator between the two sides.
