Kuala Lumpur: The Prime Minister attended the ASEAN Summit and the Gulf Cooperation Council-China meeting, emphasizing the significance of multilateral cooperation amid global economic uncertainties.
According to Thai News Agency, the summit, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, included leaders from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and China, with Mr. Li Qiang, Premier of China, alongside ASEAN member countries. The Prime Minister highlighted that ASEAN, GCC, and China collectively represent nearly a quarter of global GDP, offering a pivotal opportunity to redefine economic strategies collaboratively.
The Prime Minister proposed a '3M' economic cooperation framework aimed at strengthening multilateralism, promoting resource mobility, and mobilizing resources for sustainable development. In the first aspect, the focus was on upholding a multilateral free trade system based on international rules, openness, and transparency to counter protectionist and unilateral measures worldwide.
In promoting resource mobility, the Prime Minister underscored the need for swift movement of goods, investment, services, and human capital as crucial to economic resilience across the regions. Thailand expressed readiness to engage in digital trade, e-commerce, smart logistics, customs facilitation, and human capital development through training and exchanges.
The third aspect involved mobilizing resources for sustainable development by accelerating investments in logistics infrastructure, the halal industry, AI, semiconductors, fintech, green finance, and clean energy. These initiatives are aimed at fostering long-term economic resilience and linking with China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Concluding the summit, the Prime Minister emphasized the historical significance of the meeting and the shared commitment of ASEAN, GCC, and China to achieve creative and sustainable growth through the '3M' framework. This cooperation is viewed as essential for navigating the evolving global economic landscape and ensuring a stable future for the regions involved.
The summit concluded with the approval of the Joint Statement by ASEAN, GCC, and China, reflecting their commitment to the proposed cooperation framework.