Thailand ready to act as bridge for sustainable development

MANILA, Nov 17 (TNA) -- Thailand is prepared to act as a bridge aimed at strengthening cooperation which would lead to sustainable development when the country takes on chairmanship of G77 in 2016, said Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai. Mr Don told ministers and senior officials from 21 member economies of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) being held in Manila on Monday that it was necessary to revise the models of development for communities and cities because more than half of the total population in the world are now living in cities. He said urban areas are growing rapidly, therefore, not only economic but food security, energy, water management, natural disaster and climate changes pose problems for people living there. Thailand has attached importance to human development through several channels including improving education, technology and innovation to pave ways for every part of the society to receive benefits from economic growth on an equal basis and not to leave underprivileged people behind, Mr Don told participants attending his speech entitled ‘Inclusive Growth through Sustainable and Resilient Communities’. He said the Thai government is determined to reform the country to cope with its rising aged population problem through providing them with suitable occupations and improving medical services. Mr Don also held talks with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop on the sidelines of the meeting. The two ministers discussed problems involving human trafficking, food innovation and several other problems. He also invited Australian businessmen to invest in the Thai government-sponsored six special economic zones bordering the kingdom’s neighbouring countries. (TNA)