Prayut warns towards disrupting summit
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says Thailand is ready to web host the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (Apec) summit in November whilst also warning against any attempts simply by political activists in order to disrupt the conference.
Style Prayut yesterday chaired an online meeting of the national committee tasked with preparing for the particular summit at Federal government House.
Speaking after the conference, the prime minister indicated confidence that the collaboration of related companies will ensure the particular summit is an achievement.
“The issues that Thailand will raise at the conference are what the authorities has always attached importance to and taken action appropriately to solve, such as revitalising the economy following the pandemic, facilitating trade and investment, taking a balanced approach to coping with global warming, as well as the Bio-Circular- Green (BCG) economic development model, ” Gen Prayut said.
“I would like to request people and all sectors to support the country’s hosting of Apec as this is a large-scale economic meeting comprising 21 member nations. Just don’t wreck the country’s reputation, ” Gen Prayut said.
Asked whether he or she was concerned politics activists might affect the summit, Style Prayut said: “They should know where their boundaries are. This is not a personal issue, however it is about the nationwide interest.
”We should learn a lesson. Do we want a recurrence? ” he said, referring to unrest that disrupted an Asean peak in Pattaya in 2009.
Deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Taisaranakul said recently the meeting agreed to designate Nov 16-18 as a special general public holiday for Bangkok and its surrounding provinces — Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan plus Samut Sakhon.
“The special holiday is intended to ease traffic and assist in travel by guests and better make certain security for Apec leaders.
“However, agencies that must provide public services, such as courts of justice, hospitals and banks can use their own discretion whether to stay open on nowadays, ” said Ms Traisulee, adding the proposed special vacation will be presented for cabinet approval.
Ms Traisulee said that the meeting also approved a strategy to issue commemorative coins to mark Thailand hosting the Apec summit, while a number of agencies provided updates on their readiness for the Apec ministers’ meeting as well as the Apec Business Advisory Authorities and the Apec TOP DOG Summit that will happen ahead of the main gathering.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Don Pramudwinai expressed confidence that the state’s experience in hosting past regional meetings and summits would certainly prove invaluable ahead of Apec 2022.
He mentioned a number of foreign leaders have already accepted their own invitations, though he or she refused to reveal how many.
Mr Don brushed aside concern that this Russia-Ukraine war and the tensions between the Usa and China following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan may dampen attendance.
The international minister said that this individual and his Asean alternatives held a meeting in Cambodia recently to discuss issues related to Taiwan, Ukraine and Myanmar.
It is hoped these issues may have eased by the time of the summit, he or she added.
“We need assistance from the people and all sectors to support Thailand in hosting the particular summit.
“If the web host country is in uncertainty, there can be as bad an outcome since there was in 2009 within Pattaya. In order to gain international recognition, the domestic situation is crucial. If the domestic circumstance is not favourable, this can affect not only the particular meeting, but also travel and leisure, trade and expenditure, ” Mr Don said.