Kishida to meet Xi in Bangkok on Thursday

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Kishida to meet Xi in Bangkok on Thursday

Kishida to meet Xi in Bangkok on Thursday

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday at the 2022 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Bangkok, Tokyo’s top government spokesman said on Monday.

“Prime Minister Kishida is scheduled to hold a Japan-China summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 17th, on the occasion of the Apec summit,” said Hirokazu Matsuno.

The leaders spoke on the phone in October 2021 after Kishida’s election, but this will be their first in-person meeting.

Xi last held face-to-face talks with a Japanese prime minister in December 2019, when he met Shinzo Abe in Beijing.

China and Japan marked 50 years of diplomatic relations in September but there was little celebration amid the neighbours’ frosty ties over territorial disputes and other issues.

China, as the world’s second largest economy, and Japan as the third largest are key trading partners. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, there had been plans for Xi to make a state visit to Japan.

Relations have soured since, as Beijing bolsters its military, projects power regionally and beyond and takes a harder line on territorial rivalries.

Chinese missiles fired during massive military drills around Taiwan in August are believed to have fallen within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, and Tokyo has protested what it calls growing aerial and maritime violations in recent months.

Japan also regularly complains about Chinese activity around the disputed Tokyo-controlled Senkaku islands, which Beijing claims and calls the Diaoyus.

The war in Ukraine has only deepened the divide, with Japan backing democratic allies opposed to Russia’s invasion, while Beijing avoids criticising Moscow.

The conflict has refocused attention on whether China might try to forcibly reunite Taiwan with the mainland, prompting Kishida to warn that the invasion of Ukraine “could be East Asia tomorrow”. AFP

A series of 2022 Apec meetings will be held in Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre from November 16-19. 

Xi, Biden pledge to continue candid exchange of views

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Xi, Biden pledge to continue candid exchange of views

Xi, Biden pledge to continue candid exchange of views

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2022

Chinese leader Xi Jinping said on Monday during a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden that China and the United States should take history as a mirror and let it guide the future.

The remarks were made at the beginning of Xi and Biden’s first in-person talks since Biden became president, on the Indonesian island of Bali ahead of a Group of 20 (G20) summit on Tuesday (November 15) that is set to be fraught with tension over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“As leaders of the two major countries, we need to chart the right course for the China-U.S. relationship. We need to find the right direction for the bilateral relationship going forward and elevate the relationship,” Xi said in his opening remarks at the meeting.

The long-awaited talks between the two leaders came as relations between their countries are at their lowest in decades, marred by disagreements over a host of issues from Taiwan to trade.
President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that they are ready to continue candid and in-depth exchange of views and open and honest dialogue.

Xi, Biden pledge to continue candid exchange of views

Xi and Biden met ahead of the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali.

It has been over 50 years since China and the United States started initial contact and established diplomatic relations, said Xi.

He said the current state of China-U.S. relations is what both sides are concerned about.

“But such a state does not conform to the fundamental interests of our two countries and peoples, nor does it conform to the expectations of the international community. The international community universally expects that China and the United States will properly handle their relationship. Our meeting today has probably attracted the world’s greatest attention,” said Chinese leader.

Xi, Biden pledge to continue candid exchange of views

“We should work with all countries to bring more hope to world peace, greater confidence in global stability, and stronger impetus to common development. As always, I am ready to have a candid and in-depth exchange of views with Mr. President on issues of strategic importance in China-U.S. relations and on major global and regional issues at our meeting today. I also look forward to working with you to bring China-U.S. relations back to the track of healthy and stable development to the benefit of our two countries and the world as a whole,” said Xi.

“President Xi, it’s really glad to be able to see you again in person. And I believe there’s little substitute to face-to-face discussions. We share responsibilities, in my view, to show that China and the United States can manage our differences, prevent competition from becoming anything near conflict, and find ways to work together on urgent global issues that require our mutual cooperation. So President Xi, I look forward to our continuing an ongoing, open, and honest dialog we’ve always had. And I thank you for the opportunity,” said Biden.

Hollywood’s Anne Hathaway calls on global business community to put women first

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Hollywood’s Anne Hathaway calls on global business community to put women first

Hollywood’s Anne Hathaway calls on global business community to put women first

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2022

In the midst of interlinked global crises threatening progress on women’s rights and pushing women out of the paid economy, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway has called for women to be put at the heart of economic growth and recovery.

Speaking via video message at the Business 20 (B20), the official G20 dialogue forum with the global business community tasked with formulating policy recommendations to the G20 Presidency, meeting today in Bali, Hathaway said: “As fuel and food prices rise globally, amid the climate emergency and sustained military conflicts, women’s incomes – as well as their contributions to businesses’ success and the recovery of markets — matter even more than ever. This year, in 169 countries and areas – that’s most of the world – women’s labour force participation is expected to stay below pre-pandemic levels.”

UN Women research shows that more women than men left the workforce in 2020 due to the pandemic, to face the added care burden that came with the stay-at-home mandates, and have also stayed out of the job market longer.

Women are also shouldering a bigger share of the care work at home – at least three times as many hours as men, which led to women doing an additional 512 billion hours of unpaid care at home.

UN Women’s Executive Director, Sima Bahous, emphasized that the world’s future progress depends on women’s skills and leadership, observing how, during the Covid-19 pandemic, “women sustained their families, staffed our health-care systems and invented lifesaving vaccines. As leaders of countries, women instigated some of the most effective responses to the pandemic.”

According to recent data from UN Women, where women were better represented in governments, and where feminist movements are stronger, crisis response was more gender-sensitive and effective for everyone. 

“Systemic, gendered crises require systemic, gendered solutions,” Bahous said, urging leaders at the Summit to centre women’s and girls’ voices, agency, participation and leadership in all their plans, and invest in and consult with women’s groups and organizations to ensure their vital contributions.

“Progress for women and girls is in dramatic reverse in many countries. Rights and freedoms that women and girls had experienced as normal – to work, to learn, to make choices about their bodies – have been abruptly taken away. Some of those losses have been legislated or imposed by governing authorities against courageous resistance. Others have been brought to light and sharpened by unprecedented global crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic,” added Hathaway.

But the crisis also offers an opportunity to strengthen care policies and systems. Increasing and implementing commitments to transform the care economy will accelerate an equitable economic recovery.

As part of the effort to transform the global care agenda, UN Women and the Government of Mexico co-convened in December 2021 the Global Alliance for Care. The Alliance focuses on six core commitments, including promoting the generation of data and evidence on care; investing in social and physical care infrastructure; and fostering positive social norms through awareness campaigns.

Apec Summit a great opportunity to tackle global economic challenges, says Canada’s ambassador

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Apec Summit a great opportunity to tackle global economic challenges, says Canada's ambassador

Apec Summit a great opportunity to tackle global economic challenges, says Canada’s ambassador

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Canada’s Ambassador Sarah Taylor has praised Thailand for hosting the Apec Summit at a difficult time in global affairs.

In an interview to the news agency Bangkokbiz, published on Tuesday, Taylor said Canada attached great importance to the Asia Pacific Economic Conference.

She said, “We, as well as Thailand, are founding members of Apec. The Asia-Pacific region is important not only for the global economy but also for our trading as well. The region accounts for 60 per cent of the world’s GDP while most Canadian bilateral trade partners are in the Asia-Pacific region.”

She said that Canada is well prepared as they had waited for the meeting for a long time since the Covid-19 pandemic, and leaders of the Asia-Pacific region had not met for two years. “It will be a great chance to meet and solve important economic challenges in the region and world,” she said.

Taylor said that Canada has three important subjects for discussions at the meeting: Bangkok Goals on the bio-circular-green model, sustainability, and global economic challenges rising from the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

She praised Thailand as the host because of the political difficulties it faced because Russia is also an Apec member.

At a ministerial meeting in May, some countries — Canada, the US, and Japan — condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine by walking out.

She said, “Everything will be easy when everyone agrees, but diplomacy and cooperation will be really important when there is disagreement so this Apec Summit is important.”

She lauded the strong bilateral relationship between Thailand and Canada as the two countries celebrated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties last year while trading value reached an all-time high.

However, she said that she still had a lot of work to do for the relationship with Thailand and the region.

“It is important for people to get to know each other so having direct flights is a good thing. During holidays, more Thai people are coming to visit or study in Canada while more Canadians also want to visit Thailand, which will help the recovery to be sustainable,” she said.

She added that Canada had signed a memorandum of understanding with Thailand’s Education Ministry for Canadian people to teach the English language in Thai schools next year.

Related stories

Don fears Bangkok protests may derail Apec summit

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Don fears Bangkok protests may derail Apec summit

Don fears Bangkok protests may derail Apec summit

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai has voiced concern that anti-government protests could destroy the peaceful atmosphere at the Apec summit in Bangkok this week.

The Thalufah and Ratsadon anti-government groups have announced plans to rally in Bangkok from Wednesday to Friday.

Don said he hoped to see the same orderly atmosphere for the Apec summit on Friday and Saturday as he saw at last week’s Asean summit in Phnom Penh.

But he added that he couldn’t say whether Thailand was 100% ready to host the Apec gathering.

“It was peaceful and everything was in order,” Don said of the atmosphere in Phnom Penh. “But reports in Thailand indicate it will not be like it was in Phnom Penh,” he said on Tuesday.

The foreign minister said he did not want to see protests at the summit venue.

Other leaders at the Asean summit had also said they would like to see the orderliness of Phnom Penh repeated this week in Bangkok, he added.

The two anti-government groups have been allowed to protest opposite City Hall in Phra Nakhon district, four kilometres from the summit venue of Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

On Monday, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt urged the protesters not to disrupt the summit by marching to other locations. Chadchart also asked the Metropolitan Police Bureau to help monitor the rallies opposite City Hall.

Police intelligence had detected no other signs of political activism this week, national police chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas said.

Don dismissed concerns that the chaos of the 2009 Asean summit in Pattaya could be repeated, saying the political situation had changed.

“It’s a different era. We don’t expect things to happen like that,” he said, warning that serious disruption of the summit would damage future prospects for Thais.

Regional leaders were forced to flee the venue of the 2009 summit when it was besieged by red-shirt protesters. The summit was subsequently cancelled.

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Prayut to cap week of bilateral Apec meets with Xi, Harris talks

Hun Sen to skip G20, Apec summits after contracting Covid

Prayut to cap week of bilateral Apec meets with Xi, Harris talks

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Prayut to cap week of bilateral Apec meets with Xi, Harris talks

Prayut to cap week of bilateral Apec meets with Xi, Harris talks

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will host bilateral discussions with international leaders at Government House and Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre during this week’s Apec summit, a government spokesman said on Tuesday.

The government issued the following schedule for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation events at Government House:

– Wednesday (afternoon): Talks and exchange of memorandum of understanding with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc followed by dinner.

– Thursday (noon): Talks with French President Emmanuel Macron followed by lunch. In the evening, PM Prayut will host talks with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

– Friday (evening): Talks and exchange of MoU with Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman followed by dinner.

– Saturday (noon): Talks and exchange of MoU with China’s President Xi Jinping followed by lunch. In the evening, PM Prayut will host US Vice President Kamala Harris for talks.


Sessions to be held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre:

– Friday (afternoon): Talks with Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

– Saturday (morning): Talks with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, followed by a pull-aside meeting with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

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Nuan, The Presenter of Apec 2022

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Nuan, The Presenter of Apec 2022

Nuan, The Presenter of Apec 2022

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

THE NATION

Nuan – The Presenter for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok on November 18 and 19

Nuan is considered of Thailand’s Soft Power for her role in promoting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (#APEC) Summit in Bangkok on Nov 18-19, held under the concept “Open. Connect. Balance.”
 

Sex: Female

Colour: White, dark brown, orange

First spotted: More than two years ago at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Location: Faculty of Science, Mahidol University and Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Activities: Relaxing in a grass field when she is not entertaining staff or catching rodents!

Nuan is considered one of Thailand’s “soft powers” for her role in promoting the all-important summit on Instagram, with photos of her going viral on October 1.

Nuan’s “history” is in line with the Apec 2022’s concept “Open. Connect. Balance” as she has travelled between Mahidol University and the Foreign Affairs Ministry with her feline friends.

Nuan - The Presenter for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok on November 18 and 19Nuan – The Presenter for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok on November 18 and 19

THE NATION

Varawut gets ready for COP27 stage in Egypt to highlight Thailand’s goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

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Varawut gets ready for COP27 stage in Egypt to highlight Thailand’s goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

Varawut gets ready for COP27 stage in Egypt to highlight Thailand’s goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Varawut Silpa-archa along with Thailand’s representatives on Sunday (November 13) arrived at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt to participate in the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as the 27th Conference of the Parties or COP27 during November 14-15.

Varawut said the conference this year would focus on five main agendas: 1) The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, which coincides with Thailand’s goal of achieving net zero emission and carbon neutrality by 2050. 2) Loss and damage, an important issue in which developed countries should compensate poor countries who are affected by the impact of climate change caused by the emission of greenhouse gases. 3) Climate finance, a mechanism to allocate funds and resources to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate the adaptation to the impact of climate change. 4) Transparent reporting, a practice that all countries must strictly follow to ensure efficient utilisation of information, and 5) The implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which allows countries to voluntarily cooperate with each other to achieve emission reduction targets set out in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Varawut gets ready for COP27 stage in Egypt to highlight Thailand’s goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

Varawut added that Thailand will propose a long-term plan from now until 2065, with a target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions and carbon neutrality within 2050, including measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Thailand from 388 million tonnes equivalent to 120 million tonnes.

“We have also prepared a short-term plan in our NDCs, in which we aim to cut down greenhouse gas emissions by 40% within 2030,” he said. “Furthermore, we will show an agreement on carbon credit trade, technology transfer and fund support with Switzerland, which makes us the world’s first countries that carry on tackling climate change under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.”

Varawut gets ready for COP27 stage in Egypt to highlight Thailand’s goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

The Natural Resources and Environment Minister hoped that the agreement would help promote the use of electric public buses in Thailand and thus reduce the reliance on fossil fuels as well as the amount of PM2.5 dust particles, a major cause of air pollution in big cities.

Thailand’s workforce on Monday (November 14) visited the conference venue to survey the location as well as attend a presentation titled “Thailand Chapter – Net zero cement and concrete roadmap 2050” by SCG at the Thai Pavilion. Thailand’s representatives will attend subforums with international leaders to exchange information and prepare for the main conference scheduled on November 15 from 10 am to 1 pm, local time.

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Chef Chumpol promises a memorable Thai feast for Apec leaders

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Chef Chumpol promises a memorable Thai feast for Apec leaders

Chef Chumpol promises a memorable Thai feast for Apec leaders

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Chumpol Jangprai, an eminent Thai chef, has promised to infuse the cuisine and even the cutlery at the Apec Summit with Thainess to tell the wonderful story of Thailand.

He was speaking at a press conference on Monday evening, while serving some menu samples to Thai and foreign media.

As the media praised Tom Yum Kung Croquette in the sample menu, he barely managed to conceal his proud smile.

“Aside from the delicious flavour, each of my ingredients and menus has a fascinating backstory. Chicken from the South, organic rice from the once-dry land in the Northeast, juicy river prawns from Central Thailand — they all reflect the regional lifestyle,” Chumpol stated.

He said even the plate, dishes, utensils, decorations, and tableware have Thai stories to tell.

Welcome To Thailand, one of the menu to serve at the APEC gala dinnerWelcome To Thailand, one of the menu to serve at the APEC gala dinner

Therefore, all Apec leaders and their spouses will see and taste Thainess in every bite, chef Chumpol assured.

“I believe that Thai food is the most influential soft power of the country. It is our natural soft power that is in our very roots. May I be a Thai chef representative to express the spirit of our Thai recipes,” he said.

Chumpol also promised that this memorable menu, themed “Sustainable Thai Gastronomy”, would be timed perfectly to highlight Thailand’s food security.

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Ittipol reveals Thai thinking behind choice of souvenirs, performances for Apec Summit

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Ittipol reveals Thai thinking behind choice of souvenirs, performances for Apec Summit

Ittipol reveals Thai thinking behind choice of souvenirs, performances for Apec Summit

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Eco-friendliness and practical usage were the key ideas behind exploring and selecting all the seven souvenirs for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit 2022, Thailand’s Culture Minister Ittipol Khunpluem said.

Ittipol said at a media briefing on Monday that the concept is shared by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha, who has attended many international summits and recognises that it is better to give some souvenirs that are usable in daily life.

“Usable means the souvenir can be displayed in the office or used for a specific occasion. Then we must consider the Thai uniqueness of the souvenir, which makes the recipient remember Thailand every time they see or use the souvenir,” Ittipol elaborated.

All the materials used to make the souvenirs are 100 per cent recycled and handcrafted by Thai skilled artisans.

This is to highlight the Bio-Circular-Green economy model, which the country wishes to demonstrate to the world.

One of the colourful traditions followed at Apec summits over the years has been specially tailored outfits for the leaders, which are unveiled at a photo session. Ittipol said that this year’s summit will not have the special clothes for leaders.

Explaining the break in tradition, Ittipol said, “We want to avoid some participants’ reluctance to attend the event. Also, we are concerned that we may not be able to finish the tailored clothes on time because some leaders confirmed their attendance only a few days before the summit,” he said.

The seven souvenirs are:

  • Image design on silver plate with Centum-Milia repoussé technique
  • Silver accessory box with Dacem-Milia Repoussé technique
  • A clothing accessories set (Chaturabhorn)
  • Silver Nielloware picture frame
  • Yan Lipao basketry
  • The Book: Thai Silk for All (Directory of Thai silk)
  • Coin commemorating the 29th Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting
Ittipol reveals Thai thinking behind choice of souvenirs, performances for Apec Summit

Ittipol also revealed the performances that will take place at the Apec gala dinner on November 17 at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall.

He stated in choosing the performances, the key ideas were they must be concise, impressive, and convey Thainess. Hence, his agency decided to divide the performance into three acts.

 Culture Minister Ittipol Khunpluem (right)Culture Minister Ittipol Khunpluem (right)

The theme of each act is in line with the theme of the Apec Summit 2022 – Open. Connect. Balance.

The first act, titled “Open To All Opportunities”, will be a music performance played by a four-person Army orchestra and leading Thai singers such as “Bird” Thongchai McIntyre.

The second act, “Connect In All Dimensions”, is a contemporary Thai silk fashion show from designers in all 21 Apec economic zones.

And the third act, “Balance In All Aspects”, will be the main highlight, blending unique Thai performances such as Khon (Thai traditional dance drama), Nora (Traditional Southern Thai dance), and Loy Kratong (a traditional Thai festival to pay respect to the Goddess of water).

“All three acts will be completed in under 90 minutes,” Ittipol promised.

He expected the souvenirs and performances to help promote Thai soft power to the rest of the world.

Nongluck Ajanapanya