CHIANG MAI, May 20 – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday called on Asia Pacific nations to cooperate in sustainable water management in order to handle natural disasters more effectively.
Prime Minister Yingluck delivered her opening remarks at the second Asia Pacific Water Summit attended by leaders of nine countries and senior officials in the northern province of Chiang Mai this morning.
She said that Asia as a region has more natural disasters than other regions, and no country can handle a major crisis alone, so Asia Pacific countries should work together with sustainable water management system approaches such as preventing human activities which destroy natural resources, improving human access to clean water sources, and preparing for natural disasters.
Ms Yingluck urged all countries in the region to reduce the destruction of environment and prevent deforestation, as well as set up a warning system to reduce loss.
Without a comprehensive water management system, a ‘war on water’ could erupt, she warned.
The Thai premier also referred to Thailand’s devastating 2011 floods which adversely affected the country’s economic growth, publicly giving thanks to all parties in the country which helped Thailand went through the crisis.
She said Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) was at 4.6 after the severe flooding and the government turned the crisis into an opportunity by investing Bt350 billion in water management projects.
