On 13 November 2014, 09.00 - 11.30 hrs., General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand attended the 9th East Asia Summit (EAS), at Myanmar International Conventional Centre 1 (MICC-1), Nay Pyi Taw, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

The Leaders reviewed and discussed future direction of the EAS and agreed that the EAS should remain leaders-led strategic forum that is open and inclusive with ASEAN as the driving force, and that the EAS should promote common values and shared norms, including the rule of law and international law.  The leaders also discussed cooperation in areas of common concern, particularly the non-traditional security issues such as wildlife trafficking, trafficking in persons, pandemics, climate change and disaster management.  On regional and international issues, the leaders exchanged views on Korean Peninsula, the rise of violence committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the outbreak of Ebola as well as maritime security especially in the context of the South China Sea.

The Prime Minister of Thailand set out the vision and development of the EAS which should be open, constructive and promote further cooperation, and created conducive environment for economic growth and development, peace and stability in the region, as well as stressed that the EAS should pay attention to strategic issues of common concern.  The Prime Minister also pushed for cooperation in trans-boundary issues, including wildlife trafficking, trafficking in persons, pandemics, particularly the Ebola threat, climate change and disaster management, and expressed Thailand’s readiness to cooperate with the EAS countries to ensure tangible outcomes.  On connectivity, the Prime Minister appreciated China’s initiative to set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and urged for redoubling of efforts to realize ASEAN connectivity, particularly by promoting participation from the private sectors.  

One of the issues Leaders exchanged views on was the South China Sea, where many reiterated their support to the peaceful resolution of disputes by parties concerned in accordance with International Law, as well as restraining from any action that could escalate tension.  In this regard, the Prime Minister briefed the Meeting on the progress under the ASEAN-China Framework in promoting confidence building and mutual trust, the COC Consultation, as well as the joint efforts in expanding constructive cooperation which would help prevent and manage incidents in the South China Sea, particularly the setting up of hotlines amongst the search and rescue agencies and amongst the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Senior Officials level, and the tabletop exercise on search and rescue.  

The Meeting adopted 4 outcome documents namely: (1) East Asia Summit Declaration on Combating Wildlife Trafficking; (2) Statement on EAS Guidelines for Rapid Disaster Response; (3) Joint Statement on Regional Response to the Outbreak of Ebola/Spread of Ebola; and (4) EAS Statement on the Rise of Violence and Brutality Committed by Terrorist/Extremist Organizations in Iraq and Syria.