NONTHABURI, Nov 4 (TNA) – Seven ASEAN leaders did not attend the ASEAN-US Summit and sent their foreign ministers there instead, while United States President Donald Trump invited ASEAN leaders to a special meeting in the US early next year.
Mr Trump sent Robert O’Brien, US National Security Adviser and Special Presidential Envoy, to the ASEAN-US Summit at the IMPACT exhibition and convention complex. In response, seven ASEAN leaders had their foreign ministers attend the summit on their behalf. The response was reportedly the consensus of ASEAN leaders.
However, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha presided over the summit as Thailand chaired ASEAN. Also present were Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the prime minister of Vietnam that will be the ASEAN chair next year, and Thongloun Sisoulith, the prime minister of Lao PDR that was the ASEAN-US coordinator.
In the meeting, the ASEAN chair thanked the US for its roles in supporting peace and investment. The US national security advisor read a letter from the US president who congratulated the successful organization of the meeting and confirmed the US would be a major strategic partner. The US president also invited all ASEAN leaders to a special meeting in the US in the first quarter of 2020.
Before the ASEAN-US Summit, the Thai prime minister met the US national security adviser who sent the US president’s letter to him, confirming good ties with Thailand and admiring Thailand’s roles in tackling human trafficking. The US agreed to review its decision to suspend its Generalized System of Preferences for Thailand to prevent impacts on the Thai private sector. (TNA)
