H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with H.E. Mr. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transportation, H.E. Mrs. Apiradi Tantraporn, Minister of Commerce, H.E. Mr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of Digital for Economy and Society and H.E. Mrs. Atchaka Sibunruang, Minister of Science and Technology will attend the High-Level Dialogue Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation hosted by the People’s Republic of China in Beijing on 14 May 2017.

 

The Thai ministers participating in the meeting will extend Thailand’s support to promote complementarity between Thailand’s national strategies and key policies and the Belt and Road Initiative as well as promote mutual development through the strengthening of infrastructure connectivity and win-win cooperation. The ministers will reiterate Thailand’s readiness to be a link for the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

 

The High-Level Dialogue Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on 14 May 2017 will be divided into two sessions. The morning session will include the Opening Ceremony and the Plenary Session and the afternoon session will be divided into six parallel, thematic sessions, namely: (1) policy coordination, (2) infrastructure connectivity, (3) trade connectivity, (4) financial connectivity, (5) people-to-people connectivity, and (6) think tank exchanges.

 

The idea of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, also known as “One Belt, One Road”, was first introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2013. Since then, China has consistently made efforts to realize the concept through the establishment of significant mechanisms such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund to support the development of infrastructure and connectivity in various regions. The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held for the first time and, approximately 1,200 participants are expected to attend the High-Level Dialogue meeting, over 100 of which are Ministerial level and approximately 28 Leaders are also expected to attend.