BANGKOK, 4th August 2019 (NNT) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs has commented that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Thailand had concluded well, while he reassured other countries that Thailand has always been democratic.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Don Pramudwinai disclosed that the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) hosted by Thailand this year, had come to a successful conclusion, with participating countries discussing topics such as the return of refugees to Myanmar’s Rakhine state, ASEAN’s outlook on the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea issue which Thailand is trying to establish as a sea of peace, with sustainability and security, while hoping that ongoing tension in the South China Sea will de-escalate.

Meanwhile, he said Thailand has reassured participating countries at the meeting on the state of its democracy, with the general election and recent formation of a coalition government as proof, as well as the declaration of the government’s policy statement to the parliament, signifying the democratic values of the country.

On the trade war between Japan and South Korea, the Thai Foreign Minister said no conclusion was reached at the meeting, stressing that both countries can continue to exchange views with each other.

While the meeting hopes both sides will discuss the issue further to improve bilateral trust, adding that all conflicts can be resolved in a manner that benefits all sides in the discussion, and that all parties should talk more to each other to reduce conflict and resolve problems.

On ASEAN’s strategy with other regions, he compared the world to a marine environment with ASEAN participants being like peaceful herbivore sea creatures, which are focused on improving trade and cooperation with one another to keep them safe from bigger fish, adding that ASEAN has no intention of controlling or challenging other regions, nor being partisan, nor posing a threat to anyone.

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