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(Links to the outcome documents of the 2nd ACD Summit are shown below)
Your Majesty,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
On behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and one of the Founding Members of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), I am truly honoured to welcome Heads of State, Heads of Delegation, and all delegates to the 2nd ACD Summit in Bangkok. I am proud that Member States have full confidence in the capacity and role of Thailand as the host of the Summit. The ACD Summit convened by 34 ACD Member States today, I believe, will be a fundamental step towards sustainable cooperation and development of our region in the coming years.
The ACD has various uniqueness of its own, particularly its diverse strengths, amity, and voluntarism for cooperation of Member States, resilience of the framework and dialogue. These important factors are distinctive, characteristic and different from other cooperation. Therefore, the gathering of ACD Member States here is signaling to the global community that Asia is now ready to thrive with inclusiveness and unity and combine our strengths into one to move towards the building of a true “Asian community” in the future.
At present, apart from being a region of diverse culture, tourist destination, natural resources and environment, as well as the world’s largest market and economy, Asia also has multiple strengths. South Asia is the region with the world’s highest economy expansion. (The World Bank has estimated the expansion of economy at 7.1 in 2016 and 7.3 in 2017). East Asia has technology, innovation, forefront innovation and it is the world’s leading R&D investor. Central Asia possesses security in energy and natural resources. West Asia is the world’s source of energy with top global Sovereign Wealth Fund. South East Asia has food security and is the region with one of the highest growth rate of entrepreneur.
Therefore, “One Asia, Diverse Strengths” is the answer. We have ample capacity to drive the world’s economy that is still stagnant at present. We are endowed with roughly 60 percent of the world’s population, one-third of global GDP share, 60 percent of the international reserve, and economic growth of more than 5 percent. Therefore, it is now time that ACD Member States join hands to set a concrete direction and goal of cooperation to mobilize their potentials and diverse strengths for the well-being of our people in the region, and for the stability, prosperity, and sustainability of Asia as well as the building of an unwavering growth for the global community.
The ACD Vision for Asia Cooperation (ACD Vision 2030) therefore reaffirms the shared commitment of ACD Heads of State, envisaging Asia as a continent of inclusive and sustainable growth, seamless connectivity, stability and peace with its people at the center, dynamic innovation, research and development, as well as qualified and capable human resources to tackle with new global challenges in the next 14 years with the objective and direction towards the building of an “Asian community” in the future.
To achieve this Vision, we will push forward ACD’s 6 pillars of cooperation that are in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, namely, (1) Interrelation of food, water, and energy security; (2) connectivity; (3) science, technology and innovation, (4) education and human resources development; (5) culture and tourism; (6) promoting approaches to inclusive and sustainable development, with the aim to enhance the Public-Private-People Partnership (4Ps) for synchronization and concrete benefits among the 6 priority pillar. On this matter, I encourage Member States to be Prime Mover in each pillar to help mobilize in-depth cooperation among us. This could be achieved through establishing Working Group in all 6 pillars, setting goals, time frame and clear approaches of collaboration under each pillar to attain concrete results. I view that the importance of cooperation is to translate the meeting outcomes into real actions. We should proceed with what can be done first. Large and sophisticated matters should be planned in long-term and proceeded in order to reach tangible outcomes. Continuous monitoring and evaluation of our work is also encouraged.
With regard to the development of Asian connectivity and economic integration which is a vital foundation for the building of one Asian community that is strong and seamlessly connected. The ACD, therefore, should serve as a bridge among subregional cooperation, avoid duplication of work but complement one another to obtain maximum benefits for our Asia.
Given our strategic location that facilitates connectivity, Thailand is willing to become a connecting bridge among regions in Asia, particularly between the West Asia and East Asia. Thailand sees the potentials in enhancing multidimensional and pan-Asian connectivity. Developing regional transport infrastructure, especially land, air and water transport, upgrading and harmonizing rules and regulations among Member States, are the root of Asia’s inclusive and sustainable growth as well as important factors in the promotion of long-term regional economic integration.
To promote total connectivity of infrastructure in Asia in response to increasing economic activities, infrastructure financing in various areas in Asia is unquestionably indispensable. Taking advantage of technological advancement to promote financial connectivity and expand economic momentum, concentrated only in certain areas, in order to increase access to financial institutions in the areas with less privilege, will help narrow down the existing development gap. Therefore, at this Summit, Thailand takes great pride in presenting connectivity issues, focusing on the use of technology to enhance financial connectivity and infrastructure financing, which are the two leading topics of the ACD Connect Business Forum 2016 yesterday that reflects the importance of public-private partnership in Asia in realizing our existing potential, in particular how we could utilize financial capacity of the ACD region which possesses a great deal of financial reserve to promote investment of infrastructure for regional connectivity development.
To fulfill the unstoppable growth of Asian globalization, Thailand has developed policy scheme that is inclusive and relevant to the current dynamism of Asia. I am certain that Thailand 4.0 policy which highlights the economic advancement through technology and innovation will strengthen Thailand’s creative cooperation with ACD Member States under the ACD’s 6 priority pillars. In addition, another significant policy scheme of Thailand, is the promotion of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) at provincial level to push forward infrastructure development, heavy industry, logistics, SMEs as well as border economic management, all of which will prepare us for the leveling up of our national and regional economic capacity.
Thailand volunteered to be a Prime Mover in Promoting Approaches to Inclusive and Sustainable Development pillar, to which Thailand has always attached high importance and pushed forward this vital issue during Thailand’s chairmanship of the ACD and G77. I view that to country development should not solely focus on economic growth, but it should consider quality of balance and happiness of the people. For instance, the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP), of His Majesty the King of Thailand, aiming to achieve unity among economic, social and environmental dimensions, and the notion of Gross national Happiness of Bhutan do not have specific formula for the approaches to inclusive and sustainable development since each country has its own context, capacity, and limitation. Therefore, we have to seek home grown approaches to development that are the right paths for our countries. At the same time, ACD Member States possess experience and bank of knowledge that can be shared and exchanged, allowing us to build internal strengths and learn from one another. Additionally, Thailand is ready to collaborate with Member States in trilateral manner under Thailand+1 policy scheme to assist countries that are interested in achieving sustainable development goals, be it the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP), innovation, green economy, creative economy or other areas of Thailand’s expertise.
Combining our strengths to advance Asia cooperation does not only limit to cooperation among the public sector, but we should promote inclusiveness among all sectors through the public-private-people partnership of all ACD Member States so that we could joint formulate policy towards sustainable growth of Asia. We should also strive to promote the role of the ACD private sector while building a solid economy for the Asian community through the mechanism of the ACD Connect Business Forum which was held for the first time yesterday and attended by representatives from the private sector such as the international development banks, investors, and financial regulators, under the theme “Innovative Financial Connectivity for a Sustainable Asia.” we, ACD Leaders are eager to listen to the recommendations from the meeting of our private sector which will lead to new opportunities and approaches in promoting cooperation between the ACD public and private sectors for the future advancement of the Asian economy.
In addition, the people sector is another parallel key of the ACD cooperation, in particular tourism, culture, education and human resource development. Enhancing engagement of academic sector in the ACD will help equip the future generation of ACD citizens with key capacities to respond to emerging global challenges, including building a competitive workforce in the region that responds to the needs of the 21st century’s labor market and the ACD’s 6 pillars of cooperation. The ACD should rigorously expand collaboration in science, technology and innovation to tackle with various challenges, such as food and energy security, water management, green technology, digital economy, as well as the promotion of talent mobility in the ACD.
Your Majesty,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
The official establishment of an ACD Secretariat is another vital mechanism for coordination among Member States. It also signifies the continuity and sustainability of the ACD. Since we have agreed to establish the ACD Secretariat in Kuwait, Thailand wishes to use this opportunity to extend our gratitude to Kuwait for hosting the Secretariat and for supporting expenses of the Secretariat’s office and staffs. Thailand is of the view that ACD Member States should discuss new protocol and mechanism for the selection of ACD Secretary-General in order to reassure the efficiency and continuity of the Secretariat’s work. This includes our discussion on the establishment of the ACD Development Fund which should take place as soon as opportunity to create concrete results in our cooperation.
Finally, I would like to congratulate the UAE as the new ACD Chair and the UAE’s hosting of the 15thACD Ministerial Meeting in Abu Dhabi during January 2017. I also thank Iran for volunteering to host the 3rd ACD Summit in 2018. I am confident that these two meetings will significantly increase the momentum of ACD cooperation in the future. Now, I would like to announce the official opening of the 2nd ACD Summit and welcome everyone to the new chapter of the ACD at which we, Leaders have gathered to synchronize our diverse strengths and potentials and be driven towards one Asia. It is our Asia that will advance with strengths, sustainability, and inclusiveness, and most prominently it is our Asia that will reignite the momentum that propels the sustainable growth of the global economy, leaving no one nor country behind.
Thank you.
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Source: The Royal Thai Government
Outcome documents of the 2nd ACD Summit
2. ACD Vision for Asia Cooperation 2030
4. ACD Statement on Reigniting Growth through Partnerships for Connectivity
