The Prime Minister participated in the ASEAN Plus Three Summit and highlighted APT as the main cooperation framework in enhancing regional resilience, utilising digital economy and technology, as well as the potential development of MSMEs and start-ups. He also appreciated China, Japan, and Republic of Korea for their contributions to ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund.

On 27 October 2021, H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, participated in the 24 th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit via videoconference. The Prime Minister underlined the strength of the APT and its role as the main cooperation framework in enhancing regional resilience, and proposed ways forward for the APT to strengthen a people-centred East Asia community in a number of key areas, including public health security, sustainable economic security, seamless connectivity, as well as promoting lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

On public health security, the Prime Minister appreciated the Plus Three countries’ prompt cooperation and response with their contributions to the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund and provision of necessary medical supplies and medical equipment to ASEAN. The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation on regional preparedness for future public health emergencies in a comprehensive manner, particularly on vaccines and R&D, as well as the need to provide mental health care to all groups of peoples, especially adolescents and young children. In this regard, the Meeting adopted the APT Leaders’ Statement on Cooperation on Mental Health Amongst Adolescents and Young Children and Thailand stands ready to implement the Statement towards concrete outcomes.

On sustainable economic security, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for rapid and sustainable recovery by building a solid foundation for long-term growth. The Prime Minister proposed for the APT to develop and more effectively utilise the existing mechanisms such as the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralism (CMIM) to maintain financial and monetary stability in the region, the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) to enhance food security. APT has also been encouraged to explore region-wide cooperation on promoting synergies between the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model and the respective green policies and strategies of the Plus Three partners

In addition, the Prime Minister also underlined the importance of strengthening economic integration and supply chain connectivity, as well as building on the Connecting the Connectivities initiative with a view to enhancing seamless regional connectivity, and utilising digital economy and digital technology, by focusing on developing potential of MSMEs, start-ups and local entrepreneurs as the engines of grassroot economy.

On regional and international issues, the Prime Minister reiterated Thailand’s strong commitment to supporting processes of peaceful resolution and hopes to see progress in dialogue towards promoting lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

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