SEOUL, March 27 — Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday joined the leaders of more than 50 nations attending the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Summit which is focusing on achieving more specific actions to prevent nuclear terrorism and to ensure atomic safety.
The summit, being held at Seoul’s Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX), is the second of its kind since the inaugural gathering in Washington DC two years ago, then hosted by US President Barack Obama.
During the meeting, the Thai premier is expected to suggest establishing a nuclear monitoring network in the Southeast Asian region and establishment of a Center of Excellence to investigate nuclear traces.
The Center could help expand capability to scientifically investigate and track transnational smuggling of nuclear weapons.
The discussion among the world leaders could boost cooperation for more effective nuclear terrorism prevention.
The Seoul summit is expected to serve as a “stepping stone” to translate the political will generated at the Washington summit into action, while laying a cornerstone for attaining key nuclear security goals in the mid- and long-term, a senior Seoul official with information on the summit was quoted by local media as saying on Tuesday.
The 47 world leaders agreed at the previous summit that nuclear terrorism is a top global security challenge and that strong nuclear material security measures are the most effective way to prevent it.
A “Seoul Communique” will be announced at the end of the summit.
The Netherlands has agreed to host the third Nuclear Security Summit in 2014.
Ms Yingluck is scheduled to attend a Plenary Session to discuss the topic, “National Measures and International Cooperation to Enhance Nuclear Security” followed by a working lunch among the leaders. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations will lead a discussion on “Synergy between Nuclear Security and Nuclear Security.”
Afterward Ms Yingluck will join a dinner reception hosted by South Korean President Lee-Myung-bak and the first lady to honour the leaders attending the conference.
The premier departs Seoul Tuesday night, arriving in Thailand Wednesday at 2.55am.
