BANGKOK, Jan 7 (TNA) – Thailand begins its role of ASEAN
chair by hosting a senior economic officials’ meeting later this month.
Ms Auramon Sapthaweetham , Director-general of the
Department of International Trade Negotiation, Ministry of Commerce, said
Monday that the First Meeting of the Senior Economic Officials’ for the
Fiftieth ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (SEOM1/50) will take place in
Bangkok between January 12 and 18.
The meeting was aimed at facilitating ASEAN trade and
promoting connectivity between the member countries, she said.
Senior officials were set to declare their commitment to
finalize an agreement for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
within this year, she said.
Auramon has stated earlier that the RCEP negotiations would
be Thailand’s key focus for 2019 aiming to complete negotiations before the
year’s end.
RCEP will be the largest multilateral trade pact comprising the 10 ASEAN countries and China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New
Zealand.
RCEP members accounted for up to 31 percent of global GDP,
US$23.5 trillion, with combined trade value as much as 29 percent of the global
trade, said Auramon.
In taking the ASEAN chair in 2019, Thailand has announced
the theme of its chairmanship as “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability”.
(TNA)
