(Unofficial Translation)
 

Remarks by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand 

at the Opening Session of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit

Plenary Session 1  

26 November 2019, Busan, ROK
 

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President Moon Jae-in, 

Your Majesty,

Excellencies,

1. An-nyeong-ha-shim-ni-kka 

2. As ASEAN and the Republic of Korea (ROK) commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of Dialogue Relations this year, it is my great pleasure to be here in Busan, and to serve as Co-Chair with President Moon at today’s meeting. ASEAN looks forward to building even stronger ties of friendship and cooperation with the Republic of Korea. 

 

3. I visited Busan for the first time, as Prime Minister, five years ago to attend the 2nd ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit. I am glad to be back in Busan again this year. Busan is indeed a success story of economic growth and sustainable development for the ROK. I am also pleased to be meeting with President Moon for the third time in a period of just over two months.

 

4. President Moon’s “3Ps” principle emphasising “People, Prosperity, Peace” under the “New Southern Policy” complements the three pillars of ASEAN as well as the ASEAN Community Vision. It is also in line with Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme this year, which places importance on the promotion of a people-centred ASEAN Community that leaves no one behind and looks to the future. These complementarities will be important in helping to bring our two sides even closer together.

 

5. ASEAN appreciates the ROK’s active role in promoting ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture. Thailand welcomes the ROK’s support for Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme of “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability.” We also believe that the ROK’s experience in promoting green and inclusive growth will benefit ASEAN’s efforts in promoting sustainable economic growth.

 

6. The ASEAN-ROK Strategic Partnership has advanced in all dimensions. The ROK is currently ASEAN’s fifth largest trading partner and source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). ASEAN and the ROK also engage in many areas of cooperation, such as ICT and energy. In this connection, I am pleased that the 15 RCEP Participating Countries have concluded text-based negotiations and will be working together on outstanding issues, with a view to signing the Agreement in 2020. 

 

7. Economic growth and sustainable development in the region are dependent on a foundation of peace and stability. ASEAN therefore attaches great importance to peace and stability on a denuclearised Korean Peninsula and, in this context, Thailand welcomes President Moon’s commitment and vision with a view to establishing lasting peace and stability on a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. ASEAN stands ready to provide ASEAN-led platforms as a means of facilitating dialogue amongst the ROK and the parties concerned.

 

8. In addition, ASEAN is one of the top destinations for Korean tourists, and vice versa. ASEAN and the ROK also engage in active people-to-people exchanges as well as cultural relations. ASEAN food, Muay Thai, and Sepak Takraw are popular in the ROK while Korean artists like BLACKPINK and BTS as well as Korean series such as “Descendants of the Sun” -- one of my personal favourites -- are also famous in Thailand and the ASEAN region.

 

9. I am confident that the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit today will be successful in advancing the partnership of both sides to greater heights.

 

10. Thank you (Kham-sa-ham-ni-da).

 

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