Yingluck commends ASEAN

BANGKOK, April 4 (TNA) - Praising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for its significant role in promoting peace and security, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday said Thailand is ready to move on establishing new economic partnership and the country welcomes moves by international community to lift economic sanctions on Myanmar. Yingluck, now attending the 20th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, said Thailand commended ASEAN on its development as the regional grouping has become the major pillar in creating peace and security in the region. Thailand is pleased in being involved in holding talks with ASEAN’s dialogue countries which helps further boosting ASEAN’s position in international community, she said. Now, there are new and significant issues such as battling against transnational criminals and money laundering which ASEAN must help cooperate in order to maintain peace, said Yingluck. Economic issue is also important towards peace and security, she said, adding economic woes in Europe and economic volatility in the United States are threatening the world and ASEAN has to depend more on other Asian and Pacific countries. On marine cooperation, she said ASEAN must cooperate with dialogue partners in trying to solve piracy and protection of marine environment. Yingluck also expressed her joy on political development in Myanmar which held by-elections in the country on Sunday, saying ASEAN should encourage that country to cooperate more with the international community. ASEAN should urge the international community to lift economic sanctions imposed on that country, she added. The two-day ASEAN summit ends Wednesday. (TNA)