ASEAN members urged to strengthen trade connectivity

BANGKOK, July 8 (TNA) - Former ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan has urged member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to strengthen their trade connectivity to boost the 10-member bloc's potential regionally and globally. Surin, who is also a former Democrat Thai foreign minister, made the call when addressing the first-day session of the TU-ASEAN International Conference 2014, entitled “ASEAN:Emerging Global and Regional Player?”, held at a hotel in Bangkok from 7-8 July. The former ASEAN chief said that ASEAN should now focus on the intra-regional economic connectivity among the 10 member countries and adopt common regulations to be viable and productive for trade competition. The former ASEAN chief suggested that in case of Thailand, where there have been many transitions in political leaders, the government continue to be committed to the ASEAN provision on the intra-regional connectivity. The former ASEAN secretary general pointed out if ASEAN learns on every diversity among member countries and respects each other, the bloc will be united and have a bargaining power to attract international investment projects. The TU-ASEAN International Conference 2014 was organized by Thammasat University (TU) on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of its establishment on July 7.(TNA)