Prime Minister Paethongtarn” promotes the “ABC” vision on the ASEAN-South Korea stage, emphasizing the development of technology, all forms of development and the creative economy of Thailand to flourish.
Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, joined the 25th ASEAN Summit between ASEAN leaders and South Korea. In this meeting, Mr. Yoon Suk-yeol, President of the Republic of Korea, joined the meeting. Ms. Paethongtarn, Prime Minister, delivered a statement on behalf of ASEAN (ASEAN Common Statement) because Thailand is the coordinating country and spoke on behalf of Thailand.
By Mr. Jirayu Huangtrakul, spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office, summarizing the important points as follows:
Ms. Paethongtarn, Prime Minister, said that this year is an important year in celebrating the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK relations. Throughout the past, ASEAN and ROK have had deep cooperation that has expanded to cover all three pillars of the ASEAN Community. Today marks the beginning of a new role in the relati
onship by establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), which is hoped to implement the CPS on the basis of trust, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. The development of a new ASEAN-ROK Action Plan (2026-2030) will be a guideline for future cooperation. ASEAN appreciated South Korea’s support for ASEAN centrality and ASEAN’s perspective on the Indo-Pacific through the ASEAN-led mechanism, as well as South Korea’s participation in the AOIP cooperation, which is in line with the Korea ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI).
On the political front, ASEAN supports further cooperation in addressing non-traditional security issues, including cybersecurity, transnational crimes, and maritime security. On the economic front, ASEAN supports RCEP and hopes to start negotiations on an upgraded ASEAN-Korea FTA in 2026. ASEAN also supports MSMEs, startups for youth, millennials, and women, as well as digital transformation and future industries, as well as the environment and climate change, including transbounda
ry haze pollution.
In terms of society and culture, people-to-people and cultural exchanges should be promoted. It is hoped that South Korea will support technical vocational education and training (TVET) for future workers, and that South Korea will be encouraged to cooperate with the ASEAN Centre for Health.
On the Korean Peninsula, ASEAN called on North Korea to comply with UNSC resolutions, stressed its constructive role and use of ASEAN mechanisms such as the ARF to promote a peaceful dialogue atmosphere among all relevant parties. ASEAN also supported South Korea’s efforts to continue peaceful negotiations for lasting peace and stability for a nuclear-free, peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula, while acknowledging the importance of the “August 15 Unification Doctrine”.
The Prime Minister then delivered a statement from Thailand, highlighting the ‘ABC’ vision in developing a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP) with South Korea, namely ‘A’ Advanced Technology, using advanced technology, South
Korea as a leader in various types of innovation, can play an important role in developing the digital economy in ASEAN, which will drive technological innovation that will increase the resilience of the regional supply chain and deepen economic integration through the upgrading of the ASEAN-ROK FTA, and ‘B’ Balanced development, which is balanced development, creating a more equal, sustainable and resilient future. Thailand asked South Korea to support the development of human resources, especially MSMEs.
As for the vision ‘C’ Creative economy, many things that Thailand has been inspired by are the success of South Korea. I would like to commend South Korea’s participation in the “Seminar on Thailand and Creative ASEAN” held in Bangkok last month. Thailand and South Korea can cooperate on creative economy issues, which will be a major focus of the ASEAN-South Korea Day in November 2024.
Source: Thai News Agency