Remarks by Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi
Director-General, Department of International Economic Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
at the ACD Forum on Silk Road Cooperation,
28 May 2014, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China

Excellencies, Distinguish Colleagues

• First, I wish to thank the People’s Republic of China for organizing the meeting and for the warm hospitality extended to my delegation.
• It is an honour for me to be here to represent Thailand. I wish to reaffirm the continued high importance that Thailand attaches to the ACD. 
• I would like to express our condolences for the loss of lives and injuries caused by a recent explosive attack in Urumqi   on 22 May.
Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues
• Inspired by the ancient Silk Road - the world’s most important trade and cultural route, I believe that we are here today because we share the same vision
of enhanced connectivity across Asia and beyond.
• With enhanced connectivity, greater flows of intra-regional trade will occur,
as well as increased people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges.  Pan-Asia connectivity will thus allow us to harness Asia’s vast potential, to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth, help close development gaps, as well as promote mutual understanding among our peoples.
ACD Regional connectivity
• As the ACD Coordinator, allow me to say a few words about the ACD.
• Connectivity has always been one of the ACD’s objectives since it was initiated in 2002 to be Asia’s first continent-wide policy forum. From 18 founding members, today the ACD’s membership has grown to 33 countries from every sub-region of Asia.  Its aim is to connect Asian countries for the benefit of Asia and to build an Asian community based on their complementary strengths.
• Regional Connectivity is a strategic issue and one of Thailand’s
top priorities in the ACD, ASEAN, APEC and now the OECD.  It requires linkages within and between sub-regions in Asia, as well as beyond.
• At the 1st Working Group Meeting on Enhanced ACD Regional Connectivity held in Bangkok in July last year, it was agreed that the ACD could build upon the foundation already laid at the regional and sub-regional levels.
• Synergy of connectivity efforts between different sub-regional groupings, as well as UN agencies and ADB will need to be created in order to identify and then prioritize flagship projects that are coherent with each other.
• Building a seamless interconnected region also needs to be complemented by the harmonization of rules, regulations and standards. Institutional Connectivity is an area that the ACD should put more focus on.  There are best practices already existing within the sub-regions such as the Greater Mekong Sub-Region Cross Border Transport Agreement (GMS CBTA). 
• We will also need to address cooperation to address possible
trans-boundary challenges, the so-called dark side of connectivity.
• Establishment of an infrastructure fund was also recommended to mobilize international public and private funds for connectivity projects. Therefore, to foster a sense of an Asian Community and co-ownership, we need to incorporate the private sector and other stakeholders into the ACD framework to promote concrete cooperation at all levels.

Beneficiaries from regional connectivity  
• Connectivity can be a catalyst for the development of energy infrastructure and enhanced energy access through a more comprehensively connected energy grid.  Connectivity can also contribute to environmental protection through the development of environmental friendly modes of transport.
• The increasing need for efficient communications and Internet connectivity could also be fulfilled by better ICT and broadband connectivity.  This can go hand in hand with enhanced physical connectivity, threading fiber-optic Internet cables through our railway network for instance.  Better Internet access will bridge the digital divide, enhance access to information and promote e-commerce in our region.

China’s Silk Road Economic Belt Initiative
• In this context, we appreciate China for coming up with the “Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road” initiatives.  • The revived Silk Road can serve as a new growth driver, bringing access to the global value chain to all countries and peoples along its path, as well as to the global community.
• With the right set of strategies, the ACD can be a driving force for greater economic integration, intra-regional trade growth and sustainable development. Thailand aims to promote regional connectivity which will include not only infrastructure connectivity, but also institutional connectivity and
people-to-people connectivity along the lines of the ASEAN and APEC approaches. 

Future direction of ACD Regional Connectivity
• To this end, Thailand will host a High-Level Forum on ACD Regional Connectivity later this year.  The Forum will be held to consider a draft roadmap for regional connectivity, which covers all aspects of connectivity.
• Details of the event are being finalized and will be conveyed to ACD Member States shortly.  We look forward to working closely with all Member States in this regard.
• The draft roadmap will feed into our preparations for the 2nd ACD Summit scheduled to be held in Thailand in 2015 where regional connectivity will also be a key theme of our Summit. We look forward to working with all of you towards this end.

Finally, I wish to reassure all of you that it is the intention of the National Council for Peace and Order to carry out the necessary reforms and return Thailand to full democracy with free and fair elections being held as soon as possible. In the meantime, international commitments will be fully adhered to. Thailand deeply appreciates China’s friendship during these difficult times.

Thank you for your kind attention.

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