Thailand proposes in ASEAN and dialogue partners to promote digital economic connectivity

Lao PDR, Thailand proposed in the ASEAN and dialogue partners forums to discuss covering all dimensions of mutual benefit, and to push for the digital economic connectivity in ASEAN to grow to be the 4th largest in the world. Mr. Maris Sengiampong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who attended the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic, from 24-27 July, gave an interview that this meeting is considered important and is in a period of transition. Therefore, ASEAN member countries and dialogue partners discussed various issues. He presented 4 issues that are beneficial to Thailand: ASEAN meetings should cover all dimensions and all issues that are of mutual benefit to ASEAN and dialogue partners to promote confidence, trust, and the desire to push for joint economic growth. Connectivity through digital connectivity and the hope that we will push this forward by connecting the digital economy will make ASEAN a country with growth or th e 4th largest economic zone in the world, which will include tourism connectivity because Thailand has always been a leader in tourism. And this is an important policy that Mr. Settha Thavisin, the Prime Minister, wants to support to make Thailand a center of tourism. The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that he also proposed a sustainable development agenda focusing on a green economy to respond to global climate change. He also proposed that Thailand use ASEAN mechanisms to solve various problems in the region. The most important issue is transnational crime, which affects every country and every dimension, whether it is economic or social. In particular, the drug problem is an important issue that the Prime Minister asked him to raise for discussion in order to cooperate with ASEAN countries and dialogue partners, including cybercrime or online crimes, which when technology is developed but misused, can destroy both the world's economy and society. What he proposed is an important point that many countrie s agree with, and in fact, every country gives similar importance. The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that there are still special characteristics of dialogue partner countries that have similar characteristics and can exchange cultures, such as Thailand and Korea, which have developed soft power quickly and closely, as can be seen from the boy band in Korea. This makes cooperation within the ASEAN framework with a dialogue partner like South Korea more potential, with Thailand being an important player because in addition to soft power, it also moves towards cooperation in tourism because Thailand also has a leading role and can exchange. Source: Thai News Agency