Thai PM to attend Mekong-Japan Summit

BANGKOK, April 19 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will attend the 4th Mekong-Japan Summit in Tokyo from April 20-22, 2012, during which she will discuss cooperation between Thailand and Japan on the development of infrastructure to cope with disasters and the development of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The 4th Mekong-Japan Summit will be the next mission of the Premier Yingluck, after she concludes her official visit to China from April 17 to 19. Accompanied by her entourage, including Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Niwatthamrong Bunsongpaisan, Yingluck said that she will emphasize at the forthcoming summit Thailand’s roles as a partner of Japan in attempts to promote sustainable development in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), apart from confirming Thailand’s readiness to cooperate with Japan on the development of infrastructure to cope with disasters and the development of ASEAN, as well as transportation networks among the GMS member countries, including Thailand. According to the Thai premier, she will also take the opportunity to study Japan's electric railways and the development of outstanding Japanese products in order to boost Thai producers' competitiveness. The 4th Mekong-Japan Summit will adopt the Tokyo Strategy for Mekong-Japan Cooperation document, which guides cooperation among concerned countries over the next three years, covering relations in the GMS, as well as collective development, human security and environmental conservation. (TNA)