Maritime to be focus of Myanmar meeting

>> Maritime environment, harmonisation of investment regulations and promoting people-centred growth will be main focus for Thailand to discuss in the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) that will kick off tomorrow in Myanmar.

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks said Thailand will propose the sustainable maritime resource management initiative in the meeting.

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai will attend the meeting in Nay Pyi Taw. The theme of the 13th Asem Foreign Ministers Meeting is “Strengthening Partnership for Peace and Sustainable Development”.

The two-day meeting will have 53 dialogue partners, among t hem 30 European and 21 Asian countries and each from the European Union and the Asean secretariat.

Mr Don is scheduled to attend meetings with representatives from Germany, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Portugal, and Estonia, to strengthen relationships and cooperation between Thailand and these countries.

Mr Don will also meet with Federica Mogherini, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy to enhance cooperation, according to the European External Action Service, an EU website.

The EU expects to use the Asem meeting to address the situation in northern Rakhine state, according to the EU website.

Established in 1996, the goal of the Asem is to foster dialogue and cooperation between Asian and European countries. The meeting focuses on issues of common interest of foreign ministers including security, economic and political issues, with an emphasis on equal partnership.

In additional to the foreign ministerial meeting, the Asem summit is also held biennially between heads of state and government, the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, and the secretary-general of Asean. The upcoming Asem Summit will be held in Brussels, Belgium, next October. Last year, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha attended the 11th Asem Summit in Mongolia’s capital city Ulaanbaatar.