Thai Foreign Minister: RCEP and the "Belt and Road" Initiative can mutually promote each other

　　China News Service, Bangkok, January 8th. Title: Thailand’s Foreign Minister: RCEP and the “Belt and Road Initiative” can promote each other

　　China News Agency reporter Wang Guoan

　　Thai Foreign Minister Tun Pamawinai recently stated that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the “Belt and Road” initiative can promote each other and achieve common goals.

　　In a written interview with a reporter from China News Agency, Dun said that the RCEP signed by the 10 ASEAN countries and China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand on November 15 last year is a step towards building a more unified and economically integrated Asia-Pacific region. This is an important step that will help strengthen intra-regional trade and investment and attract foreign companies to invest in ASEAN.

The ASEAN region is full of huge business opportunities.

　　He said that RCEP will build an integrated regional market by reducing tariffs, reducing trade barriers, and improving market access for goods and services.

It will also promote fair competition and formulate standardized rules and regulations, such as intellectual property, e-commerce, government procurement, and dispute settlement rules.

These are all conducive to increasing trade and investment.

　　He pointed out that the signing of RCEP is undoubtedly a victory for multilateralism, demonstrating the firm commitment of all parties to a rule-based multilateral trading system that is open, inclusive and beneficial to all.

　　Dun said that despite the different economic scales and economic development levels, there are still 15 countries that have successfully signed the world's largest free trade agreement.

This strengthens our belief that all stakeholders can benefit from this agreement.

　　All ASEAN countries are important partners of the "Belt and Road" initiative.

Tun believes that RCEP and the “Belt and Road” initiative can promote each other, jointly promote regional cooperation, and enhance connectivity and supply chains.

　　In his view, the "One Belt One Road" initiative plays a key role in promoting the construction of infrastructure in the region, while RCEP strengthens the "interconnection" of software by coordinating cross-border trade and investment rules, and the two are complementary.

　　"Therefore, we should strive to play this complementary role. Our philosophy should be based on mutual trust, respect, and the combination of interests, with the common goal of achieving sustainable growth and inclusive development," he said.

　　As the largest economy in RCEP, China is accelerating the construction of a new development pattern of domestic and international "dual cycles".

In this regard, Tun believes that the "dual cycle" policy can work hand in hand with RCEP to promote regional economic growth.

　　He said that because the “dual cycle” model will help expand China’s domestic market, it will also help countries increase international trade and investment with China, thereby improving the regional supply chain. RCEP will also provide exporters and investors with More trade and investment opportunities.

　　Tun said that RCEP will help Thailand's economic growth.

The agreement will bring a lot of opportunities for Thai companies, especially in the export and manufacturing sectors such as auto parts and food processing.

He said that in the long run, it is believed that Thailand's economy will continue to grow as RCEP expands.

As more countries join RCEP in the future, more business opportunities will be created.

　　China and Thailand are friendly neighbors. In recent years, the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields have been intensified.

Tun believes that under the RCEP framework, the relationship between Thailand and China will be closer.

　　"There is no doubt that RCEP will further consolidate the already close and intimate relationship between Thailand and China-not only in terms of trade and investment, but also in the exchanges between people." Dun said.

　　He said that in the future, Thailand and China should continue to work with RCEP participating countries to adhere to multilateralism and create an open, transparent, fair and predictable environment for regional growth and prosperity.

(Finish)