PM proposes Act West ASEAN-India cooperation

  

VIENTIANE, 9 September 2016 (NNT) – The Prime Minister proposed the ASEAN-India cooperation framework dubbed “Act West” during the ASEAN Summit, answering India's Act East strategy, planning to boost ASEAN-India trade value to US$200 billion by 2020. 

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today attended the last day of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos. The morning session started with the 14th ASEAN-India summit at the National Conference Center. 

The PM praised India’s Act East strategy which prioritized cooperation with the South East Asia region, noting the strategic partnership with ASEAN will be crucial to the security and prosperity of the region. 

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations in 2017, the Thai PM proposed the Act West strategy to answer India’s Act East strategy, which includes expediting the Thailand-Myanmar-India road and support to road expansion in the Mekong sub-region, in parallel with facilitating cross border trade and transport to yield maximum benefits from this connection. 

Thailand also proposed intensifying cooperation to stop piracy and enhance the Dawei Special Economic Zone development, which will connect the economic corridors and ensure safety of ship transport in international waters. 

The Thai PM pointed ASEAN and India should accelerate their economic cooperation, praising initiatives on economic development by the Indian Prime Minister, while setting a new goal for ASEAN-India trade to reach 200 billion US dollar in value within the year 2020. 

Thailand also proposed to be the host of an ASEAN-India exposition in 2017 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations, with all ASEAN countries and India invited to the event.

 

-- nnt 2016-09-09

 

He is a great proposer. Luckily enough proposing costs nothing but when push comes to shove and money must be flopped onto the table its a different story. Thailand the land of dreams.