Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced Thailand’s readiness in realising an ASEAN Community in all 3 pillars and stressed the need for relevant government agencies to enhance cooperation and closely involve the public sector, civil society, and private sector in promoting knowledge about ASEAN’s social and cultural dimension.
On 21 February 2011, Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, chaired Thailand’s ASEAN National Committee Meeting (1st/ 2011) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held to follow up on the progress of ASEAN integration and to exchange views among relevant agencies regarding the realisation of ASEAN Community in 2015. During the Meeting, attended by representatives from the state and private sectors, Foreign Minister Kasit emphasised Thailand’s readiness to support realisation of the ASEAN Community in ASEAN’s three main pillars, namely, the politics and security, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions.
Foreign Minister Kasit stressed that the socio-cultural aspect was the key towards realisation of the ASEAN Community and specifically urged relevant agencies to work closely and cooperate with the public sector, the local private sector, and the civil society in promoting ASEAN awareness and creating ASEAN-related activities on culture and education in respective local communities. Foreign Minister Kasit cited the example of a meeting between ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the Chinese Foreign Minister which led to the agreement to jointly celebrate the Songkran, or Water Festival, in Southern China provinces and certain ASEAN countries. The festival will be broadcast on local radio and television stations in an effort to underscore cultural similarities between people of this region. Foreign Minister Kasit added, however, that ASEAN member countries should mutually verify the accuracy of Southeast Asian History and not let it become an obstacle in realising the ASEAN Community.
With regards to politics and security, Foreign Minister Kasit viewed that Thailand’s role, along with other ASEAN member countries, have increased considerably on global issues such as maritime security and peacekeeping operation. Therefore, ASEAN member countries should agree on a common position on these issues, which would lead to a further strengthened, consolidated, and unified ASEAN. Furthermore, ASEAN will need to accelerate economic integration to increase competitiveness of the region, especially through better transportation linkages and increased efficiency of border immigration procedures to facilitate the flow of goods and people.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th