Prime Minister Prayut Can-o-cha held bilateral talks with the leaders of Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok today.

Government deputy spokesman Lt-Gen Werachon Sukondhapatipak said that, since Thai-Indonesian diplomatic relations will reach their 70th anniversary next year, both Prime Minister Prayut and Indonesian President Joko Widodo agreed to use this opportunity to strengthen relations between the two countries.

The Thai Prime Minister, he said, proposed that the two countries amend rules and regulations, which currently impede investments by Thai and Indonesian investors.

Lt-Gen Werachon said Prime Minister Prayut would like to see ASEAN well prepared to meet global challenges, particularly the threats to cyber security.

During his talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, General Prayut offered to provide Vietnam with expertise in solving the IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing problem.

Thailand, Werachon added, wants to push for cooperation between Vietnam, Laos and Thailand in the development of Route 12 in Laos, and in the promotion of trade and tourism along the route by the private and government sectors.

With Myanmar, the deputy spokesman said Thailand’s Prime Minister assured state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi of his country’s intention to expand cooperation with Myanmar as a natural strategic partner for mutual benefit.

As ASEAN chair, he said the Prime Minister promised ASEAN support to Myanmar over the Rohingya conflict in the Rakhine state on the basis of regional security, adding that Thailand is ready to help Myanmar in development projects to raise the quality of life of the Myanmar people in terms of education, public health, community development, agriculture and fishing.