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https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/apec/40022264

Supreme Patriarch tells Harris of role Wat Ratchabophit played in US-Thai ties

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2022

US Vice President Kamala Harris made time in her busy schedule to have an audience with the Supreme Patriarch at Wat Ratchabophit in the heart of Bangkok on Saturday.

Harris was in the capital to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Friday and Saturday.

The Supreme Patriarch welcomed the vice president by thanking her for attending the summit and making time to pay respects at the temple.

“The US vice president’s visit can be seen as fostering US-Thailand relations to ensure they continue from generation to generation,” Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana IX said.

Harris was also shown around the temple and paid respects to the principal Buddha image, Phra Buddha Angkhiros.

The base of the Phra Buddha Angkhiros contains the ashes of King Rama VI, who visited the US to establish ties. The Supreme Patriarch said these ties have been strengthened over the decades, with Thai monarchs visiting the country over the years. Besides, he said, Thailand has emotional connections with the US because the beloved monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, was born in Massachusetts.

The Supreme Patriarch also showed Harris a proverb in Pali inscribed above the door of the main chapel by King Rama V, which translates as “the unity of the people of all diverse groups will bring about prosperity and success”.

Harris, meanwhile, promised to work on building unity and peace in the world and said she was honoured to have been granted an audience with the head of the order of Buddhist monks.

“In a multicultural society, if we have the opportunity to study with each other, we will be able to accept differences and live together happily,” she said.

Related stories:

• Thailand and China ink 5 agreements to boost trade, regional security
• A peek inside the Apec 2022 venue
• French Muay Thai star taught Macron to keep guard up in Bangkok

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https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/apec/40022258

Singapore PM Lee’s Apec 2022 posts go viral on Facebook

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2022

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Facebook comments and photos documenting his experiences at Apec 2022 in Bangkok have gone viral among netizens.

In a series of posts on Saturday, he took photographs of meetings, performances and even the appetiser served at the gala dinner on November 17.

For the starter dish, dubbed “Welcome to Thailand”, he said: “A beautifully presented appetiser that creatively incorporated the Apec 2022 Thailand logo and the host country!”

The dinner menu was created by Michelin-starred chef Chumpol Jangprai, and his appetiser covered tastes from the four regions of Thailand:

• Northern Temptation: Lanna crispy khao soi-flavoured rice noodle

• Central Voyage: Ayutthaya tom yum-flavoured river prawn croquettes

• Come to Isaan: Charcoal-grilled Wagyu from Korat with a spicy dipping sauce

• Sailing South: Betong-style marinated grilled chicken

Lee also took photographs of the cultural performances put up during the dinner and said “the cultural show was an interesting blend of traditional and modern Thai song, music and dance”.

The performances were inspired by the theme of this year’s summit “Open. Connect. Balance” and were divided into three acts.

• Open to All Opportunities: A concert by bands under the Royal Thai Army, Navy and Air Force as well as the police. The performance also included contemporary numbers by popular artists.

• Connect in All Dimensions: A fashion show featuring Thai silk creations by designers from all 21 Apec countries.

• Balance in All Aspects: An arts and culture performance showcasing Thailand’s North, Northeast, South and Central regions.

The government held a sumptuous gala dinner at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall on November 17 for leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in Bangkok.

Related stories:

• Thailand and China ink 5 agreements to boost trade, regional security
• A peek inside the Apec 2022 venue
• French Muay Thai star taught Macron to keep guard up in Bangkok

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https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/apec/40022252

Thailand and China ink 5 agreements to boost trade, regional security

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2022

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and China’s President Xi Jinping agreed to strengthen security, trade and sustainability ties between their countries during talks in Bangkok on Saturday, a Thai government spokesman said.

The talks at Government House, which came straight after Prayut had closed the Apec Summit, saw the announcement of five agreements signed during Xi’s visit:

1. The fourth joint action plan on Thailand-China strategic cooperation (2022-2026)

2. The cooperation plan on the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road

3. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in e-commerce between the Thai and Chinese commerce ministries.

4. MoU on cooperation in academia, science and technology between Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and China’s Academy of Sciences.

5. MoU on establishing a working group on investment and economic cooperation between Thailand’s Industry Ministry and China’s Commerce Ministry.

Prayut and Xi also agreed to strengthen security cooperation to combat cyber and transnational crime, drugs, human trafficking and call centre scams.

On commerce, both sides agreed to boost trade value and facilitation, especially for agricultural produce, government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said.

“Both countries promoted investment, especially in digital and green industries,” he added.

Prayut and Xi also agreed to promote connectivity, especially via rail freight.

“China hopes to see connection of infrastructure, logistics and customs to expand the export of Thai agricultural products such as durian and mangosteen,” Anucha said, citing Xi’s remarks.

He said Thailand and China had also agreed to cooperate in addressing challenges to stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific region.

Related stories:

• A peek inside the Apec 2022 venue
• French Muay Thai star taught Macron to keep guard up in Bangkok
• Apec summit ends in Bangkok with 3 unexpected joint statements

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https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/apec/40022250

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

The 2022 Apec Summit wrapped up successfully with the unexpected release of three joint statements and loud applause for Thailand’s ability in keeping thousands of participants happy and well-catered.

After the summit was completed on Saturday, the Nation was granted exclusive rights to photograph the areas where leaders of the 21 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) countries and invited guests discussed trade ties and an inclusive, sustainable future.

We captured the key meeting rooms that were specially decorated with flowers, the leaders’ lounge, the room where private discussions were held and waiting rooms.

The Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, which opened on October 15 after being renovated for three years, served as the venue for the summit.

The 300,000-square-metre facility has 50 meeting rooms, two massive interconnected exhibition halls, two seminar halls and many other areas serving different purposes. The site has 3,000 parking spots and can accommodate up to 100,000 visitors.

Before the Apec Economic Leaders’ Week, there were 23 noteworthy meetings and events, including an Informal Senior Officials Meeting, three clusters of Senior Officials’ Meetings, eight sectorial meetings on trade, tourism, forestry, health, food security, SMEs, women and the economy and finance. Also held were eight media focus groups and three informal media roundtables.

The government allocated about 3.28 billion baht for the summit, the Foreign Ministry said.

At a press conference marking the end of the summit, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the event drew approximately 6,000 participants. He added that the event was made environmentally friendly thanks to the “Care the Bear” initiative launched by the Foreign Ministry in partnership with the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

As part of the initiative, six green practices were observed, namely providing public transportation, using less paper and plastic, not using Styrofoam, reducing energy consumption from electrical equipment, using decorative materials that can be reused and reducing food waste.

The meeting apparently has potentially reduced greenhouse gas emissions by about 25,820 kilograms of CO2 equivalent, which is equal to annual carbon absorption by 2,869 trees.

Nongluck Ajanapanya

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https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/apec/40022247

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022

A productive and highly successful APEC Summit 2022 ended in Bangkok today with the leaders endorsing the importance of a Bio-Circular-Green economic model, sustainability and also recognising the challenges facing the world

A productive and highly successful APEC Summit 2022 ended in Bangkok today, with the leaders endorsing the importance of a Bio-Circular-Green economic model, sustainability and also recognising the challenges facing the world, in particular the Russia-Ukraine war and climate change. Thailand also handed over the baton to the next APEC host, the United States

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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