Thai foreign minister calls for joint efforts to solve regional issues
The new government of Thailand led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra will prioritize solutions to cross-border challenges based on people-oriented principle, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said on Thursday, calling for collective efforts by its neighboring countries and China.
"Thailand is conducting diplomacy for the people and we will pursue illegal drug trade, water management, call center scams, air pollution and transnational crime as a matter of urgency, said Maris during a meeting with press.
He emphasized that all those problems have affected the well-being and quality of life of Thai people. However, these issues cannot be solved by any one country alone and require collaboration.
"I have visited the local affected areas, witnessed problems firsthand and learned of the actual needs of impacted communities," Maris said, calling for joint efforts and international cooperation with China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to address these trans-boundary issues.
During a meeting with China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam last month, which ran in parallel with the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework, Thailand initiated and pushed for solutions to air pollution, water management and cross-border crime.
The meeting agreed that these were urgent issues to address, with the five countries welcoming this initial meeting and expressing readiness to work together with Thailand in the long term for tangible outcomes.
"The problem of narcotic drugs is of critical importance to the prime minister and is an issue that has been advanced by Thailand with the Mekong countries, our neighboring countries, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and China in particular," he said, adding that the threats from drugs have reached the well-being of the future generations.
Maris said the management of the Mekong River, especially the impact of flooding on people living along the river, is another issue on which Thailand has recently engaged with China and Laos.
"I also recently spoke with Myanmar about close cooperation to alleviate the suffering of people on both sides affected by flooding and to ensure effective and sustainable water management," he added.
Air pollution, another issue that poses health threats to people not only in Thailand but also in the neighboring countries, is also among the top urgent tasks that the new government will focus, said Maris.
Thailand is among the most polluted countries in Southeast Asia, ranking fourth worst in the region, according to research undertaken by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.
"Regarding clean air, we must first have key conversations before we can jointly monitor forest fires and the movement of smog. The ministry will continue to serve as a voice for the people in safeguarding their interests, with a view to achieving collective problem-solving," Maris said.
As the new government of Thailand has officially begun to operate, Maris noted that the ministry will continue the tangible actions and build on the foundations laid by the previous administration.
"Our foreign policy has and will continue to be founded on two main approaches: first, we will advance diplomacy for the people, and second, it will take the form of proactive economic diplomacy. Key countries and partners are already taking good note of Thailand’s proactive role," he added.
On Thursday, Maris also revealed that Thailand aims to facilitate cross-border travel for tourists in six countries in the region under a single visa policy known as "Six Countries, One Destination," positioning Thailand as a regional tourism hub.
"We will expedite negotiations with five other ASEAN continental countries -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Malaysia to implement the policy. This will significantly simplify travel, encouraging more tourists to visit the region and contribute to our economy," said Maris, adding that the idea will also critically align with regional connectivity developments, such as the Thailand-Laos-China railway.
