Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday flew to Myanmar to attend a regional economic summit during which he plans to co-sign two documents to boost cooperation with Thailand's neighbours the Nation reported on 23 June.
The one-day summit, entitled Ayeyawaddy - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (Acmecs), is being held today in Nay Pi Taw, Myanmar's capital, and will also be attended by the leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Maj-General Veerachon Sukonthapatipark, deputy government spokesman, said the leaders would follow up on eight areas of mutual interest and exchange ideas for future cooperation. They would also take the opportunity to listen to the opinions of the private sector.
Prayut and the other leaders will sign two documents, the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration of the Sixth Ayeyawady - Chao-Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit and the Acmecs Plan of Action 2016-2018.
He said these declarations would show the commitment of the leaders to promote peace, stability, sustainable development, and cooperation among the members in the eight areas of mutual interest, which include agriculture, industry and energy, transportation network, health, tourism and environment.
Veerachon said the cooperation was in line with Prayut's strategies to promote Thailand as the centre of the sub-region and Asean and to strengthen the region by empowering its citizens.
Thien Sein, president of Myanmar and chairman of the summit, yesterday hosted a reception dinner for the attending leaders.
Veerachon said the summit would benefit all the members, particularly in the areas of transportation network projects, cooperation projects on cash crops and boosting border economies.
The cooperation will create jobs and income for all countries, he said.