Bangkok--Apr 23--MFA
Honorable Minister of Trade, Industry, and Private Sector Development of Ghana,
Excellency, Mr. Rezlan Jenie, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia,
Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
I would like to begin by expressing Thailand’s appreciation to the Government of Ghana for the excellent hospitality and arrangements for UNCTAD XII and for our meeting today.
From the very beginning Thailand has attached importance to the GSTP scheme when it was established in 1976. We have been an active participant from the very first round of negotiations up until the present third round.
From the outset, we recognised the very real potential of the GSTP as a vehicle for promoting and expanding South — South trade. Throughout, we have remained committed to the GSTP negotiations. We recall in particular that in Sao Paulo four years ago we set the aim for an ambitious package of trade liberalization commitments among the Participants.
Today, more than ever, we can see the rise of the dynamic South as a significant player in the global economic scene. And with the slow progress in the Doha Round negotiations coupled with the present financial instability creating uncertainties for the global economy, it is all the more incumbent upon us to achieve an agreement that would generate mutual trade, in a substantive and meaningful way, for the interests of all GSTP participants.
We welcome the report of Ambassador Dumont of Argentina on the present status of the Third Round of Negotiations and would like to commend him as well as Ambassador Puja of Indonesia for their dedication, leadership and determined efforts to move the round forward towards the successful conclusion. Clearly, we have achieved significant progress in the course of recent negotiations. There has been a convergence of views on a number of key issues, particularly the modalities for market access. But clearly, more hard work needs to be done and we should not and must not allow this window of opportunity to be lost.
Still, we must be mindful that such a package should take into consideration the best interests and comfort level of all concerned, with a view to ensuring the best possible outcome for all of us. To this end, we must strive to be ambitious and yet practical and realistic in our approach in order to achieve a package that is credible and meaningful.
Thailand is fully confident that if all of us demonstrate the political will and determination to go the extra mile, this goal is within reach and it is not beyond us to conclude the negotiation by the end of the year as has been our aspiration since the inception of GSTP.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-
Honorable Minister of Trade, Industry, and Private Sector Development of Ghana,
Excellency, Mr. Rezlan Jenie, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia,
Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
I would like to begin by expressing Thailand’s appreciation to the Government of Ghana for the excellent hospitality and arrangements for UNCTAD XII and for our meeting today.
From the very beginning Thailand has attached importance to the GSTP scheme when it was established in 1976. We have been an active participant from the very first round of negotiations up until the present third round.
From the outset, we recognised the very real potential of the GSTP as a vehicle for promoting and expanding South — South trade. Throughout, we have remained committed to the GSTP negotiations. We recall in particular that in Sao Paulo four years ago we set the aim for an ambitious package of trade liberalization commitments among the Participants.
Today, more than ever, we can see the rise of the dynamic South as a significant player in the global economic scene. And with the slow progress in the Doha Round negotiations coupled with the present financial instability creating uncertainties for the global economy, it is all the more incumbent upon us to achieve an agreement that would generate mutual trade, in a substantive and meaningful way, for the interests of all GSTP participants.
We welcome the report of Ambassador Dumont of Argentina on the present status of the Third Round of Negotiations and would like to commend him as well as Ambassador Puja of Indonesia for their dedication, leadership and determined efforts to move the round forward towards the successful conclusion. Clearly, we have achieved significant progress in the course of recent negotiations. There has been a convergence of views on a number of key issues, particularly the modalities for market access. But clearly, more hard work needs to be done and we should not and must not allow this window of opportunity to be lost.
Still, we must be mindful that such a package should take into consideration the best interests and comfort level of all concerned, with a view to ensuring the best possible outcome for all of us. To this end, we must strive to be ambitious and yet practical and realistic in our approach in order to achieve a package that is credible and meaningful.
Thailand is fully confident that if all of us demonstrate the political will and determination to go the extra mile, this goal is within reach and it is not beyond us to conclude the negotiation by the end of the year as has been our aspiration since the inception of GSTP.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-