Look beyond economic ties with Asean, PM tells envoys

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who presided over the meeting, said all officials needed to be ready for the AEC deadline, adding that it did not just mean an economic tie-up, but also included the pillars of security, society and culture.

"We have to look at all aspects in line with provincial development strategies. Border provinces must think of connectivity with neighbouring countries," she said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said his ministry had been working closely with the Interior Ministry to help with regional integration, trade and investment.

"We have to face up to many challenges that will arise from regional integration," he said, noting that trans-border human trafficking and drug smuggling would be one of the many problems stemming from the integration.

Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan told the meeting his ministry was working on boosting each province’s potential for regional integration. "This meeting is an ‘inside-out and outside-in’ exchange of views for close cooperation between officials from the two ministries," he said.

Benjawan Arn-pleung, the governor of Trat, said her province had good ties with Cambodia’s Koh Kong over the border.

"We are even getting our people to study the Cambodian language to help with good relations," she said, adding that she and her peers were well aware of problems and had stepped up necessary measures to tackle them.

Benjawan said once the AEC goes into full effect it should benefit border provinces, notably in terms of tourism.

This meeting was part of an annual get together the Foreign Ministry holds to implement its policies.

On Monday, Surapong said he would transfer any Asean envoy who failed to meet his performance target, and called on them to work harder in promoting trade and investment. "I just want to motivate them," he told reporters.

Later yesterday afternoon, Yingluck flew to Phnom Penh to give her condolences to PM Hun Sen, who recently lost his father.