The Cabinet met on Wednesday, June 23, 2015 at Command Building, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows;
Title: Action Plan for Local Culture and Wisdom Promotion and Protection
The Cabinet acknowledged the Action Plan for Local Culture and Wisdom Promotion and Protection as proposed by Ministry of Culture.
Gist of the matter
Ministry of Culture reported that with the awareness on the importance of conservation, inheritance, and restoration of local culture and wisdom, the Ministry has set key missions for FY2009-2015 as follows.
1. In FY2009, cultural wisdom heritage registration was implemented. Registration process was introduced and a ceremony announcing cultural wisdom registration was organized for the first time in 2009. The registration has been continued ever since. Seven areas of cultural wisdom heritage were defined conforming to the Thai society’s context, and 286 items have been registered.
2. Research on and drafting of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Act B.E. … were cooperated by the Legal Research Institute Foundation in 2010 in order for Thailand to have a specific law regarding promotion of intangible cultural heritage. Original knowledge or wisdom from intangible cultural heritages would be conserved, inherited and utilized in a sustainable manner. The Act is now with the coordinating committee of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) before being proposed to the NLA.
3. Ministry of Culture foresaw that if Thailand was able to become a participant of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the country would have the rights to propose the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity or the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to UNESCO. At the NLA meeting on March 5, 2015, participation in the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was approved. Ministry of Foreign Affairs was appointed to proceed with diplomatic procedures. Ministry of Foreign Affairs would begin the procedures once the Intangible Cultural Heritage Act B.E. … is enforced.
Title: MOU on Nalanda University establishment
The Cabinet approved the following proposals of Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
1. The Cabinet approved the drafting of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of Nalanda University;
2. The Cabinet approved Deputy Prime Minister-cum-the Minister of Foreign Affairs or his representative as signatory of the MOU; and
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is approved to amend the MOU in places not affecting the gist of the MOU in order to conform to Thailand’s policies and benefits without seeking another Cabinet’s approval.
Gist of the matter
Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the memorandum of understanding on Nalanda University establishment has an aim to promote cooperation between countries partaking in the East Asia Summit, to establish Asia’s leading educational institution, and to create an academic community for students, scholars and researchers from different institutes to exchange knowledge and cooperation. Thailand’s signing of the MOU will support cooperation among the countries attending the East Asia Summit. It will also contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between Thailand and India, the country that initiated the drafting of MOU on Nalanda University establishment. The MOU has an English version only and would be effective once four or more countries sign it. The MOU has been in effect since October 10, 2013 after Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, New Zealand, and Singapore signed it during the 9th East Asia Summit.
Title: Thailand’s gesture at 2nd Thai-Malaysia Joint Trade Committee meeting
The Cabinet agreed with and approved the proposal made by Ministry of Commerce as follows:
1. The Cabinet agreed in principle to the economic and trade cooperation topics to be discussed with Malaysia and appointed the Minister of Commerce to use them as discussion framework at the 2nd Thai-Malaysia Joint Trade Committee meeting to be held on June 28-29, 2015 in Bangkok.
2. If further economic and trade agreements are to be made at the meeting that would benefit strengthening of trade and economic relations between Thailand and Malaysia, the Minister of Commerce and the Thai delegates attending the meeting are allowed to proceed without another Cabinet’s consideration; and
3. The Cabinet approved for Minister or Commerce or his representative to endorse the 2nd Thai-Malaysia JTC meeting outcome and other documents resulting from specific cooperation expansion (if available).
Gist of the matter
Ministry of Commerce reported that it held a meeting with relevant administrative agencies and the private sector on May 19, 2015 to consider economic and trade topics that Thailand wanted to present at the second Thai-Malaysia JTC meeting. The gist is as follows:
1. Trade target for both countries: The trade target was set at 30 billion US dollars by 2018;
2. Border trade promotion: Border trade accounts for about 60% of the combined Thai-Malaysia trade values. Promotion includes setting a border trade goal and establishing a joint working group on Thai-Malaysia border trade promotion;
3. Trade barrier reduction and trade facilitation: Ways to lower trade barriers and facilitate trade include promoting land transport between Thailand and Malaysia to facilitate passengers’ border crossing and goods transport, encouraging Malaysia to allow imports of Thai rice through land transport besides the marine channel, and considering easing up requirements for work permit issuance for Thai workers and entrepreneurs in Malaysia;
4. Special Economic Zone cooperation: Investment in special economic zones located in the Thai-Malaysia border must be promoted and supported to create connectivity and develop industries located in the special economic zones between Thailand and Malaysia;
5. Halal cooperation: Cooperation on halal production must be propelled to promote production of value-added Thai halal products and expand halal exports to the world market. For example, cooperation in halal standards and certification development should be promoted, as well as organization of and participation in halal activities and trade shows held by both countries;
6. Rubber cooperation: Cooperation in rubber production must be promoted as rubber is a potential product of both countries in terms of production and exports. Production of value-added rubber products in Thailand will be focused on;
7. Private cooperation: Relations between the private sectors of the two countries should be promoted. The private sector should be regarded as part of the mechanism in driving trade and investment.
Title: Thailand’s gesture at the 39th Session of the World Heritage Committee during June 28-July 8, 2015 in Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany
The Cabinet agreed with the National Committee on the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Thailand about the Kingdom of Thailand’s gesture at the 39th Session of the World Heritage Committee. There will be three topics as proposed by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The Cabinet’s agreements are as follows:
1. Agreement to all 3 agendas set by the World Heritage Committee:
1.1 Agenda 39COM 7B.71: State of conservation of Historic City of Ayutthaya
1.2 Agenda 39COM 7B.17: State of conservation of Dong Phayayen – Khaoyai Forest Complex
1.3 Agenda 39COM 8B.5: Nominations of Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex to the World Heritage List;
2. Agreement to the roadmaps for Don Phayayen – Khaoyai Forest Complex and Kang Krachan Forest Complex. For any inquiries from the World Heritage Committee and/or consulting organizations, the Thai delegation shall use the guideline stated in the roadmaps; and
3. Any impromptu issues shall be considered under the discretion of Head of the Thai delegation. The Thai delegation shall jointly consider the issues during the 39th Session of the World Heritage Committee, taking into account the principles of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, international relations, and technical and academic information from consulting organizations (the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)).
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) June 23, 2015--