On 11 November 2011, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul attended the 23rd APEC Ministerial Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Meeting focused on achieving concrete and meaningful results to translate into reality the vision for APEC to strengthen regional economic integration and achieve balance, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth. Towards this end, three priority areas were set for 2011, namely, strengthening regional economic integration and expanding trade, promoting green growth and advancing regulatory convergence and cooperation.
During the morning, the Foreign Minister attended the APEC Foreign Ministers Working Breakfast chair by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss regional cooperation and regional architecture. In his intervention, the Foreign Minister stressed that given today’s economic situation, it was important for APEC to protect the economic dynamism and strength of the Asia-Pacific. APEC needed to advance in free trade and economic partnerships so that APEC provides the locomotive or engine for global growth. Furthermore, Thailand agreed that in terms of regional architecture, there was a need to pursue synergy among the different forums and institutions. Moreover, APEC members should pursue a building bloc process. At the same time, APEC needed to continue pursuing open regionalism and should be prepared to enhance cooperation in non-traditional areas, such as natural disasters because they impact on our economies.
Later that day, the Foreign Minister also attended the High Level Policy Dialogue on Disaster Resilience, during which he made an intervention detailing how Thailand was addressing the current flood situation and how an inspiring public-private partnership was born out of the goodwill and volunteering spirit of the Thai people. At the same time, civil society and people from all walks of life have also played an important role in extending a helping hand to those in need—reflecting the “Whole of Society” effort which is inherent to Thai society. The Foreign Minister also expressed appreciation to the international community for the assistance extended to Thailand to help support the country’s relief efforts.
The Foreign Minister also attended the High Level Policy Dialogue on Open Governance and Economic Growth. In his intervention, the Foreign Minister stressed the importance of opening space for public participation and consultation on issues of interest and concern. For open governance to be sustained, there was also a need to promote public understanding of the close linkage between open governance and growth. In Thailand’s case, a multi-dimensional Good Governance Plan was adopted in 2001 to encourage and institutionalize accountability, transparency and public participation in the decision-making, review and implementation process of national policies. For the current Thai Government, the Prime Minister had also announced eight principles for good governance by those in public office, namely, running people-centric governance, promoting accountability, transparency and combating against corruption, energizing civic engagement, advancing private sector engagement, implementing the highest standards of professional integrity, working integratedly among all agencies, leveraging new technologies to support the works of government as well as to increase public access to information on government activities, and working proactively in preparation for the ASEAN Economic Community. Looking ahead, APEC should be used as a platform to share best practices in promoting good and open governance.
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