Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, center, arrives ahead of the 19th East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. - AP
VIENTIANE (Bernama): Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to enhancing regional cooperation across key sectors, positioning Thailand as a key player in the region’s economic and security landscape.
Thai Government Spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said the 38-year-old prime minister, elected in August, made a significant debut at the 44th and 45th Asean Summits in Laos reaffirming Thailand’s diplomatic presence.
During the summit, he said the Prime Minister attended 10 high-level meetings aimed at bolstering Thailand's global presence.
"One of the key highlights was her participation in the 27th Asean-China Summit, where she underscored the importance of ASEAN-China relations as a cornerstone for regional peace and prosperity. She further endorsed deeper economic integration, security cooperation, and strengthening of people-to-people relations,” Jirayu said in a statement on Friday.
He added that the highlight of the summit was the announcement made during Paetongtarn’s meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
"The year 2025 will be designated as the "Golden Year of Friendship" to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China, a sign of the growing importance of these bilateral ties," he said.
He emphasised that Paetongtarn also had bilateral meetings with key global leaders, including the founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Klaus Schwab, who invited her to the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting in Davos to showcase Thailand's economic potential.
Additionally, Jirayu said Paetongtarn met with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who endorsed Thailand’s "Six Countries, One Destination" initiative to stimulate regional tourism and the southern border economy.
"The initiative reflects the growing economic ties, with Malaysia currently ranking first in foreign tourist numbers to Thailand," he said.
In another important meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Jirayu said Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to act as a "bridge builder" between Asean and the United States, furthering peace, stability, and prosperity in the regional and global arenas.
According to Jirayu, these interactions demonstrate confidence in Paetongtarn’s ability to lead Thailand back to prominence on the regional and international stage.
He noted that with significant potential in trade, investment, and tourism, Thailand is set to play an integral role in promoting global peace and cooperation. - Bernama
