Dutch ambassador meets Thai Prime Minister
On Thursday 25 February 2016, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Thailand, HE Mr. Karel Hartogh, met in Government House with HE General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand.
The meeting was friendly and courteous, thanks to the long-standing ties between the two countries, and covered a range of bilateral and international issues, including cooperation in the context of EU-ASEAN relations. The Netherlands currently chairs the Council of Ministers of the European Union and Thailand holds the position of Country Coordinator for ASEAN-EU relations.
Both the Prime Minister and the Ambassador raised the domestic political situation in Thailand. Ambassador Hartogh referred to the press release related to the meeting of the EU ambassadors with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai on 2 December XNUMX. He reaffirmed the need for free and fair elections in accordance with a proper constitutional procedure and the full restoration of freedom of expression, assembly and other basic human rights and international standards recognized by Thailand.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Chan discussed the roadmap to democracy in this country and stressed that the government is doing its utmost to implement the roadmap to democracy to return Thailand to a situation of lasting peace and stability
On EU-ASEAN relations, both sides pointed to the ambition to strengthen bi-regional cooperation. To achieve this ambition, it is vital to provide each other with sufficient feedback on policies, activities and proposals. Mr Hartogh pointed out that the EU wholeheartedly supports ASEAN's integration process and said that the relationship between ASEAN and the EU was now mature enough to take it to a higher level of cooperation, both economic and political.
As Ambassador of the country that currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Mr. Hartogh looks forward with interest to working with the current ASEAN President Laos and the ASEAN-EU Country Coordinator Thailand. As one of the priorities, the Netherlands places particular emphasis on a close connection between the issues of climate change, energy, the environment and sustainability.
During the meeting, potential areas of closer cooperation were identified from both sides, such as water and water resources management, urbanization, education, agriculture and horticulture, and food security. Ambassador Hartogh focused on the urgency and complexity of issues related to water and other climate-related issues facing Thailand. These issues (drought, clean water, flooding, salt intrusion into the Chao Phraya Estuary) are becoming increasingly urgent and require immediate action. He referred to a number of studies and investigations carried out by the Netherlands in the past, which were presented to the Thai government together with a number of recommendations. He recalled once again that the Netherlands is a world leader in the field of water management.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said his government has already prepared a Water Management Master Plan, which is still awaiting parliamentary approval. He expressed his great interest in exploring opportunities for renewed cooperation in these and other areas.
Source: Translated from English from the Facebook page of the Embassy in Bangkok