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https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/apec/40022246

Apec summit ends in Bangkok with 3 unexpected joint statements

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Thailand’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit 2022 ended on Saturday with three unexpected joint statements that aim to restore commerce and investment in the region.

The traditional joint Leaders’ Declaration was accompanied by the Ministerial Joint Statement, as well as the Bangkok Goal Declaration on Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG).

In their declaration, leaders committed to implementing the Apec Putrajaya Vision 2040 agreed last year, under this year’s summit theme of “Open, Connect, Balance”.

The official statement said it was important to promote a trade and investment environment that is free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive and predictable.

“This includes fostering an enabling environment for businesses of all types, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups, and collaborating to improve opportunities for them to be competitive, specialised, innovative, and expand into the international markets,” said the statement.

Leaders said they will also cooperate for safe and seamless cross-border travel within the region following the Covid-19 pandemic.

They also highlighted the importance of digital technology and innovation in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.

“We will deepen cooperation to bridge digital divides between and within economies, including facilitating access to digital infrastructure and supporting the development of digital skills and digital literacy. We will cooperate on facilitating the flow of data, and strengthening business and consumer trust in digital transactions,” the statement said.

It also revealed divisions within Apec over Russia’s war in Ukraine. Earlier, the traditional group photo of Apec leaders was scrapped amid tensions over Russia’s participation in the summit.

The statement said leaders acknowledged that Apec was not a forum for resolving security issues even though they can have significant global economic consequences.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has triggered soaring fuel and food prices.

Meanwhile, all of the Apec leaders pledged to intensify efforts to promote agricultural development, including in rural areas.

Protesters in Bangkok urged Apec delegates to reject the Thai government’s Bio-Circular-Green economic model for the region, claiming it favours big business over poor farmers. Police fired rubber bullets and used baton charges to break up the protests.

In their statement, leaders said they would promote long-term food security by strengthening global food supply chains by making their agricultural and food systems more resilient, productive, innovative, and sustainable.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told press that the 21 members had agreed that Apec was not the place to resolve security issues. The summit was overshadowed on Friday when North Korea tested a suspected nuclear-capable ballistic missile that fell in Japanese waters, prompting US Vice President Kamala Harris to hold an impromptu meeting of allied Apec members.

“We agreed to detach the [security] issue and find another approach to solve economic challenges, the main agenda of the Apec Summit,” Prayut said at the closing press conference.

He also handed the ceremonial Apec “chalom” to Harris, as the United States will host the summit in San Francisco next year.

Prayut left the press conference without taking questions and headed to an afternoon meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping at Government House.

Apec leaders met in person for the first time in four years for talks on Friday and Saturday at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre in Bangkok.

Nongluck Ajanapanya

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https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/apec/40022241

Successful summits promote regional prosperity, says Japanese PM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022

Jarupong Krisanaraj

The Apec Summit in Thailand, G20 Summit in Indonesia and the Asean Summit in Cambodia are all important steps towards the Indo-Pacific region’s security and prosperity, the Japanese PM said.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made this comment at a press conference on Saturday at Conrad Bangkok.

Kishida said he had discussed several issues with different leaders, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and North Korean tensions.

“Many countries agreed to cooperate on boosting security in the region,” he said, adding that the Russia-Ukraine war is unacceptable.

Kishida also thanked Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Cambodian PM Hun Sen for opening the door to negotiations. He added that Japan was ready to cooperate with other countries on food security, climate change and rule of law.

“Japan cannot achieve success in prosperity if Asia has not succeeded yet,” he said, citing a remark made by Hayato Ikeda, who served as Japan’s premier from 1960 to 1964.

Kishida added that Japan would hold a special Japan-Asean Summit in Tokyo next year and will also launch a tourism promotion event named “Open the Treasures of Japan”. The tourism promotion would present Japanese culture from old and new aspects, including cuisine, manga and anime, he added.

He also said that more flights between Thailand and Japan’s Kansai region, which includes the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara, will be introduced next year.

“We hope more Thais will visit Japan in the future,” he added.

Related stories:

• Police chief warns media to stay away from protest clashes
• Thailand, Saudi Arabia sign pacts on economic and social ties
• Apec 2022 ends with Prayut handing ‘chalom’ to next host – the US

Jarupong Krisanaraj

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https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/apec/40022238

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wrapped up the Apec Summit by handing over the “chalom” – this year’s Apec symbol – to US Vice President Kamala Harris to symbolise the United States’ chairmanship next year.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wrapped up the Apec Summit by handing over the “chalom” – this year’s Apec symbol – to US Vice President Kamala Harris to symbolise the United States’ chairmanship next year.

Apec 2022 ends with symbolic handover to US

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https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/apec/40022236

Apec 2022 ends with Prayut handing ‘chalom’ to next host – the US

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Apec 2022 wrapped up today with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha symbolically handing the Apec “chalom” over to US Vice President Kamala Harris as the Apec host will be the United States.

The handover ceremony took place at around noon, with Prayut saying the chalom – the traditional Thai basket and this year’s Apec logo – represented strength, flexibility and consistency. He said he hoped the US would uphold Apec’s aims and visions when it hosts the next summit.

“We hope the BCG [bio-circular-green] economic model will also be one of the main factors that bring economies together,” he added.

Prayut said he hopes the US and other economies would work together to help the Asia-Pacific region prosper, adding that the world is undergoing significant change and that environment and sustainability are crucial.

The next APEC meeting will be held in San Francisco.

Nongluck Ajanapanya

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https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/apec/40022231

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022

World leaders greeted King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida and Princess Sirivannavari Nariratan at Royal Palace during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday (November 18).

World leaders greeted King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida and Princess Sirivannavari Nariratan at Royal Palace during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday (November 18).

World leaders greet Thai king during APEC summit : Apec 2022 Thailand

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https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/apec/40022230

3 takeaways from Xi’s Apec speech – and a warning for Thailand

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Thailand’s political scientist and ex-government adviser has pinpointed three takeaways from President Xi Jinping’s Apec speech while warning Thailand not to take sides in the US and China’s battle for influence in Asia-Pacific.

Panitan Wattanayagorn said Xi’s Apec address laid out China’s plan to strengthen its role in Asia-Pacific through closer economic, trade, and investment ties with the region’s countries.

China’s leader had been due to deliver the speech at Thursday’s Apec CEO Summit but cancelled the appointment and sent the paper instead, with the Chinese delegation citing his tight schedule.

Panitan said there were three major points to take away from the speech.

The first takeaway was Xi’s overall perspective on the Asia-Pacific region.

The speech stated that the region will continue to grow steadily while adhering to international rules and allowing trade and investment to flow freely.

The second takeaway was Xi’s emphasis on the importance of the region, which he said must not be treated as anyone’s backyard and used as a battleground for great-power rivalries.

“Actually, what Xi Jinping said is not dissimilar to what the US said. It’s just that the manner in which he used the words made China [sound] less aggressive. Some countries in this region already perceive China’s influence.”

The third takeaway was building relationships to stabilise the region’s prosperity. Xi stated that his country’s policy was to help Asia-Pacific to grow. He then wrapped up his speech by boasting of China’s great successes, its future role, and its efforts to maintain peace and stability. Xi also promised that China would be a country that brought inclusive benefits for all, rather than one that caused problems.

Panitan said the speech was also directed at the Chinese audience back home, aimed at boosting nationalism by demonstrating China’s success on the global stage.

Xi’s administration has been facing unusual levels of criticism in China for its strict zero-Covid policy at a time when other countries are returning to social and economic normality.

Panitan said China has always prioritised the Asia-Pacific region, but in recent years the United States had pushed to be a part of this prosperous region, causing tensions between the two superpowers.

“China wants peace in the region so it can achieve its goals without having to deal with risks or conflicts.”

However, the US wanted a more intensive rules-based order that protected the sovereignty of Taiwan, which China claims, Panitan said.

Amid growing regional tension, Thailand and its Asean allies must beware of siding with either superpower and losing advantages.

Asean centrality has been threatened in recent years by crises over the Rohingya and now the military takeover in Myanmar, which have generated deep divisions in the regional bloc.

Panitan urged Thailand and Asean to rebalance by deliberating deeply on each important issue before moving forward.

The 2022 Apec Summit has drawn global attention to the region amid geopolitical tensions, climate change, and looming recession – adding urgency to member-countries’ efforts to work together to find solutions.

Nongluck Ajanapanya