Thai PM to attend 2nd LMC Leaders' Meeting in Cambodia

BANGKOK, January 9 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha is scheduled to visit neighboring Cambodia on January 10 to attend the 2nd Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders' Meeting in Phnom Penh. Thai Deputy Government Spokesman Lieutenant General Werachon Sukhondhapatipak told journalists of the prime minister's schedule on January 8, noting that the upcoming LMC Leaders' Meeting in the Cambodian capital will be co-hosted by Cambodia and China. The deputy spokesman stated that the agenda of the 2nd LMC Leaders' Meeting will be the development of issues discussed at the 1st LMC Leaders' Meeting in Lao PDR in 2016, explaining that the upcoming meeting will focus on details of a five-year plan generally raised at the previous meeting, aimed to be jointly practically implemented by six member countries, including China, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, for the sake of further improved living conditions of their people. The deputy spokesman acknowledged that the Thai premier is ready to materialize the regional five-year plan in due course, as it is in line with the Thailand 4.0 and the Thailand+1, as well as the Chinese One Belt One Road Policies. "Wednesday's 2nd LMC Leaders' Meeting is another platform Thailand will play a constructive role to support regional development on the sustainable basis with equal benefits to all member countries", said the deputy spokesman. "Thailand will support an advanced regional cooperation framework in the development of modern technologies, innovations, the water management, especially the practical management of the Mekong River, which is viewed as a regional friendship river, as the Thai economy is considered a regional hub and market where close cooperation among member countries should be fostered through government policies, namely, among others, the Thai government's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Project", the deputy spokesman elaborated. According to the deputy spokesman, two documents will be endorsed at Wednesday's LMC Leaders' Meeting, including the five-year action plan, under which details of joint measures to be implemented among member countries will be clearly mentioned, and the Phnom Penh Declaration, under which leaders of the member countries will echo their agreed political will to support and realize the regional cooperation framework for the sake of the further economic and social development of their people. Besides, the Thai prime minister is scheduled to meet his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on the sidelines of the 2nd LMC Leaders' Meeting to discuss issues of mutual and regional interests. (TNA)