Thailand joins Mekong nations in sealing cooperation pact with South Korea

BANGKOK: Thailand and four Mekong River Basin countries have adopted the first action plan of a cooperation agreement with South Korea for the next three years, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.
The action plan was endorsed at the 4th Mekong-South Korea Foreign Ministers meeting in Seoul yesterday attended by ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and South Korea.
The cooperation will see Thailand and South Korea provide assistance to the other Mekong countries, with Thailand to train officials and help develop local communities and roads.
The roads include Route 48 from Koh Kong to Sre Ambel in Cambodia, and a road from Mae Sot in Tak province in northwestern Thailand via Myawaddy to Kaw Kareik in Myanmar that are considered important economic routes.
Acting Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the cooperation covers other areas such as technology, agriculture, water resources, rural and human resources development.
Sihasak said South Korea has expressed interest in developing Route 48 and the action plan will provide investment opportunities in the Mekong River Basin.
"The partnership with South Korea would help narrow economic gaps among Asean members and speed up formation of the Asean Economic Community," he said. – Bernama