Prayut calls on Asean members to strengthen their economies
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday (September 6) called on all Asean members to join forces to move their economies forward so they can overcome ongoing trade wars.
He made this remark in an opening speech at the 51st Asean Economic Ministers Meeting, which runs from September 5 to 10 in Bangkok.
Prayut also said he expects the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to be completed this year and signed next year.
RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement between the 10 Asean member states and its six free-trade partners, namely China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
He added that Thailand, which is chairing Asean this year, is ready to work with other members of the grouping to strengthen the Asean community so it can deal with the fast-changing world of technology as well as meet challenges presented by global trade and a rising awareness of ecological conservation.
