On 28 February 2009 at 12.00-12.30 hrs. H. E. Abhisit Vejjajiva Prime Minister of Thailand chaired the ASEAN Leaders’ Informal Meeting with Representatives of ASEAN Youth along with 9 ASEAN Leaders and Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary-General, at the Dusit Thani Hotel Hua Hin, Cha-am, Phetchaburi.
The ASEAN Leaders’ Informal Meeting with Representatives of ASEAN Youth is a part of a series of informal meetings between ASEAN Leaders and representatives of the peoples of ASEAN, including ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, youths, civil societies, and the private sector, which is aimed at promoting greater people participation in ASEAN according to the ASEAN Charter which entered into force on 15 December 2008.
During the meeting, the Thai Prime Minister stressed the important role that youths can play in helping create an ASEAN Community, both as recipients of the benefits of ASEAN integration and as Leaders of ASEAN in the future. In this connection, he also called upon the youths of ASEAN to play its creative part in raising awareness of ASEAN and reaping the benefits of community-building.
At the first ASEAN Youth Summit in 2008 held on 15-16 September 2008, the representative of youth expressed their views in enhancing the ASEAN community building process along the line of ASEAN’s three Communities. Youths expressed that they will play a part in promoting greater acceptance and friendly relations between ASEAN Member States, support regional economic integration which will bring greater prosperity to the region through the narrowing of developmental gaps, emphasize the importance of self improvement through the promotion of English education and English as a regional language.
Furthermore the Meeting also agreed to convene the ASEAN Leaders’ Informal Meeting with Representatives of ASEAN Youth as a part of its annual ASEAN Summit
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