Remarks about the Meeting by H.E. Mr. Sompong Amornvivat Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand at the Co-Chairs’ Press Conference of the First ASEAN-MERCOSUR Ministerial Meeting 24 November 2008, Brasilia, Brazil
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press,
It is indeed a special occasion that today the Foreign Ministers from MERCOSUR and ASEAN regions, the two regions that are geographically far apart, gathered here in Brasilia for the first official Ministerial Meeting.
The Meeting has provided us with opportunities to share our views on global and international issues and to exchange information and update on the progress of our regional groupings as well as to discuss the ways forward to further promote and enhance our future cooperation.
With the recent global financial crisis, which is likely to have crucial impacts on growth and economic stability for years to come, regional cooperation is a key instrument in cushioning the economies from external shocks. Coordination and cooperation between and among regions around the world including ASEAN and MERCOSUR will also play an important part in containing the repercussion effects of such crisis.
Besides financial cooperation, ASEAN and MERCOSUR Ministers also agreed to further promote cooperation in many areas of common interest namely energy security, agriculture, food security, transportation and logistics as well as people-to-people contacts.
To discuss our future cooperation, we have tasked our senior officials to meet in March 2009, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to discuss a comprehensive roadmap or plan of action in all areas of potential cooperation.
This will then be submitted to the ASEAN-MERCOSUR Foreign Ministers during their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
We also agreed to convene by June 2010 the Second ASEAN-MERCOSUR Ministerial Meeting in an ASEAN country.
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.