During 4 – 5 September 2017, General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, led a Thai delegation to attend the Emerging Markets and Developing Countries Dialogue (EMDCD) during the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen, People’s Republic of China. The Thai delegation included H.E. Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister; H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and H.E. Mr. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transport. The Prime Minister attended the meeting by the invitation of the People’s Republic of China, along with other four BRICS members (including Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa) and four other emerging markets and developing countries (namely, Egypt, Mexico, Guinea, and Tajikistan) that China recognized as having significant potential and close relationships with China. The invitation was extended to Thailand due to its significant role in the Southeast Asian region and its close ties with China. 

 

The meeting recognized the significant role of emerging economies and developing countries as an engine for global growth and agreed to nurture partnership for sustainable, open, fair, inclusive and innovative-driven development. The leaders also stressed the importance of South-South cooperation, mainstreaming of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into national development strategies, enhancing connectivity, combating climate change and a reform of global economic governance. Multilateralism and rule-based systems should be upheld through which the United Nations and the World Trade Organization should play the key role in development cooperation and trade and investment promotion, respectively. 

 

At the EMDCD, the Prime Minister shared his vision that BRICS and EMDCD can build a meaningful complementary “Partnership for Development” and stressed four important points. Firstly, development must begin with building strength from within while ensuring that our neighbouring countries prosper together. With such objectives, Thailand implements the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, along with the “Thailand + 1” policy. Secondly, recognizing that forging partnerships to enhance inclusive connectivity in all dimensions, including infrastructure, people and digital is important. Such partnerships will expand transportation and communication opportunities, access to education and businesses as well as spread development and equal income distribution to all sectors, reducing gaps and uplifting people’s livelihood. Thailand’s geographical location allows it to connect ASEAN with other regions through the establishment of various economic corridors, including the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and advancing connectivity master plans in ASEAN and other regional platforms in a  complementary manner, in particular the Belt and Road Initiative. Thirdly, it is important to foster economic growth that goes hand-in-hand with environmental protection. Fourthly, partnerships must be mindful of stakeholders’ needs and constraints and make use of all channels including North-South, South-South and tripartite cooperation.

 

The Thai Prime Minister also had bilateral meetings with other leaders, including (1) President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, (2) President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, (3) President Emomali Rahmon of the Republic of Tajikistan, and met with (4) Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Republic of India, (5) President Michel Temer of the Federative Republic of Brazil, (6) President Enrique Peña Nieto of the United Mexican States, (7) President Alpha Condé of the Republic of Guinea, (8) President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of  the Arab Republic of Egypt, and (9) President Jacob Zuma of the Republic of South Africa. They discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation, especially in the areas of trade and investment.

 

The theme of the recent EMDCD was “Strengthening Mutually - Beneficial Cooperation for Common Development”. Under this theme, two major topics were discussed, namely: (1) the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development; and (2) strengthening south-south cooperation and international development cooperation. 

 

The Prime Minister’s attendance at the EMDCD reflects a recognition of Thailand’s significant role in the international community. President Xi praised Thailand’s leading constructive role in promoting South-South cooperation, especially during Thailand’s Chairmanship of the Group of 77 in 2016 and the incoming Chair of ASEAN. He also thanked Thailand for sharing its homegrown approach to sustainable development or the “Sufficiency Economy Philosophy”. Furthermore, he recognized Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) will complement China’s Belt and Road Initiative.