BANGKOK, Dec 2 -- Thailand will host the 3rd Asia-Middle East Ministerial Meeting (AMEDIII) to be convened under the theme “Strengthening Cooperation towards Common Prosperity” Dec 15 and 16 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, according to a senior Thai official.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will preside over the opening ceremony on Dec 15.
Thai Foreign Ministry Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs Director-General Pravit Chaimongkol said over 500 participants from AMED member countries including ministerial-level delegates, business people and non-governmental sectors will attend the meeting, one of the largest ever gatherings of ministers from Asia and the Middle East. AMED is regarded as an important platform to forge, foster and reinforce ties and mutually-beneficial cooperation between Asia and the Middle East.
Crucial issues to be discussed at the plenary and panel discussions will cover a wide range of political, economic, and social matters.
The discussions aim to find ways to strengthen and expand cooperation between member countries in order to resolve pressing concerns and challenges Asia and the Middle East face, ranging from terrorism, piracy and maritime security, economic crisis and business opportunities in the two regions, to climate change.
As for Thailand, he said, other than being a good opportunity to consolidate its ties with countries in Asia and the Middle East, hosting the meeting will expose the public and private sectors, as well as civil society not only to Islam and the Islamic world, but also allow the Thai public, which is mostly Buddhist, to learn about and gain a better understanding of the cultures, traditions, and peoples of the Middle East as a whole.
Besides, organising such an important meeting in Thailand has several significant benefits. In addition to being a boon to the local economy, Thailand will have a good opportunity to showcase its potential and assets to the world as Thailand’s position as Asia’s breadbasket, a hub for medical and health tourism, and as a prime tourist destination which in turn is expected to boost investor confidence and investment in Thailand, and increase the volume of trade.
AMED consists of members from 50 participant countries in Asia and the Middle East. The ministerial meeting is held biennially in venues alternating between Asia and the Middle East. Its inaugural session was in Singapore in 2005, while AMED II was in Egypt in 2008. Voluntary, informal and flexible, its participants include not only government officials but also the private sector, academics and non-governmental organisations.
Outcome documents of AMED are in the form of non-binding policy recommendations to be submitted to participating governments for their consideration. (MCOT online news)
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