WEF

Leaders descend to international forum in Bangkok

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- Thailand is ready to welcome foreign delegates of the World Economic Forum on East Asia to Bangkok, which includes the leaders of Indonesia, Bahrain, Vietnam and Laos.

According to the preliminary programme, Aung San Suu Kyi, chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD); Member of Parliament of Kawhmu Constituent, Myanmar, will join a one-on-on conversation with Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of World Economic Forum on June 1.

However, Sushant Palakurthi Rao, senior director and head of Asia at the World Economic Forum, told the media today that Myanmar President Thien Sein will skip the June 1 appearance. In the plan, Thien Sein was scheduled to describe "what does Myanmar’s recent reform mean for the region and the world?".

A source told The Nation that Thien Sein instead plan to make a state visit to Thailand during June 4-5.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong expects the event to run smoothly despite political protests.

"Those who plan protests should be reminded that we should do anything to impress our guests," he said.

The World Economic Forum on East Asia will take place for the first time in Thailand under the "Shaping the Region's Future through Connectivity" theme, where over 600 participants from 50 countries will convene in Bangkok during May 20-June 1.

The meeting in Bangkok will welcome over 50 public figures representing 20 countries. More than 450 business leaders, over 60 Global Growth Companies, 33 Young Global Leaders and 14 Social Entrepreneurs together with other members of civil society and academia will convene to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing East Asia today.

"This year's meeting is an exceptional opportunity not only for leaders from East Asia, but also from outside the region, as the ASEAN countries are a major evolving geopolitical and geo-economic pillar of the global economy," said Sushant Palakurthi Rao. "Our meeting is taking place at a time of tremendous economic and political transformation. Therefore, enhancing connectivity in the region will be critical to the region's future growth."

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will join the leaders in opening the forum on May 31.

"On Thailand's part, we are pleased to host the World Economic Forum on East Asia, which will not only be a great opportunity to showcase Thailand's progress in the economic and political sphere, but will also be a good chance for government and business leaders from around the world to discuss how to increase bilateral and regional cooperation," said Kittiratt. "The message that will emanate from the event will underscore East Asia's preeminent role in enhancing global economic growth and development, as well as the role that the region has and can play in addressing the challenges facing the region and the world at large."

The 21st East Asia meeting will also bring together key international public figures such as: Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD); Member of Parliament of Kawhmu Constituent, Myanmar; Susan M. Collins, Senator from Maine (Republican), USA; Márcio Favilla Lucca de Paula, Executive Director, Competitiveness, External Relations and Partnerships, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Madrid; Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism of Australia; Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director-General, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Sweden; Gloria Guevara Manzo, Secretary of Tourism of Mexico; Tatsuo Hirano, Minister for Reconstruction and Minister for Comprehensive Review of Measures in Response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, Japan; Idris Jala, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia; Pascal Lamy, Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO), Geneva; Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia; Rajat M. Nag, Managing Director-General, Asian Development Bank, Manila; Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva; Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General, ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations), Jakarta; Cesar V. Purisima, Secretary of Finance of the Philippines; Naoyuki Shinohara, Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington DC; and Kim Sung-han, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea.

-- The Nation 2012-05-28

As in "drop from the Heavens"?

Will they be having a whip round so that the Greek delegate can attend?

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong expects the event to run smoothly despite political protests.

"Those who plan protests should be reminded that we should do anything to impress our guests," he said.

How's that again?

.

Myanmar president delays Thai trip amid Suu Kyi visit

BANGKOK, May 28, 2012 (AFP) - Myanmar's president has postponed this week's official visit to Thailand, where opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is set to arrive on her first foreign trip in two decades, Bangkok officials said Monday.

Thein Sein was to attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia, which will host Nobel laureate Suu Kyi as part of her historic first foray outside Myanmar in 24 years.

"Thailand and Myanmar decided to postpone the Myanmar president's official visit to Thailand to 4-5 June," Thai foreign ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi told AFP, adding that Suu Kyi "will still come as planned".

Officials at the Bangkok economic forum confirmed Suu Kyi's attendance -- including at two events on Friday -- and the cancellation by Thein Sein.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-05-28

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong expects the event to run smoothly despite political protests.

"Those who plan protests should be reminded that we should do anything to impress our guests," he said.

How's that again?

.

Is that an indication the red shirts are or are not going to riot?

"descend"?!?

From their heavenly plane above all mankind?

If they'd just left it as "Leaders descend on Bangkok", they'd have been writing decent English. By getting fancy with the phrase, they've said something ridiculous. That's what you get when you fire almost all your native speaker sub-editors, as The Nation did a few years ago.

I hope that's not a fake Rolex he's wearing.

Maybe they will impress their guests passing out commerative fake rolex's.

Maybe they will impress their guests passing out commerative fake rolex's.

They'd have to be completely gaga to do that.

Maybe they will have Yingluck cook gaeng kiaow wan jing joe wearing a wife beater, black boxers and her Burberry boots

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Maybe they will impress their guests passing out commerative fake rolex's.

They'd have to be completely gaga to do that.