BANGKOK: Speaking at the Asia Society in New York, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is currently participating in the ongoing 67th General Assembly of the United Nations, highlighted the contours of what she called the Asia-Pacific Century, and played up Thailand's “unique role” as coordinator of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for China. The Thai prime minister presented her views on key challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region, including sustainable growth and development, tensions in the South China Sea, and managing relations between regional powers in order to ensure stability. Yingluck pointed out, obviously for the benefit of the carefully-listening American audiences, that America was her “second home” – she obtained her Master's degree from Kentucky University – and that Thailand had a special relationship with the US with which it had signed a treaty of friendship and commerce 179 years ago. “As Thailand's Prime Minister, we aim to improve the quality of life of the Thai people and create jobs. We expect economic growth between 5.5 and 6.0 percent this year. Our two-way trade with the US was around $30 billion in 2011,” she said. The Asia Pacific region accounts for some 36 percent of global GDP, according to international studies. She added that the region's priority was to ensure sustainable development; open market was the key pillar of such sustainability despite the ongoing Euro crisis. Yingluck said her government will “make every effort to help build trust and confidence” among parties in the South China Sea disputes. Thailand's role as Asean coordinator for China issues gives it a “unique role” to play in the region; she alluded to her gender which would give the dispute a “woman's touch”. “Perhaps I can bring a bit of a woman's touch to addressing this conflict,” she explained to the packed auditorium amid gentle ripples of laughter. “And focus more on what we can do together rather than what divides us.” Her speech was peppered with phrases that suggest a bullish mood in the Asean region. “We will not be successful in promoting economic growth and prosperity if there are tensions and conflict in our region. “We all have a shared interest in maintaining open sea lanes, safe from conflict and free from piracy we believe that maritime areas such as the South China Sea should be seen as an area of opportunity for cooperation rather than conflict.” Yingluck said that she would strive for good relations with both China and the US, pointing out that the East Asia Summit would be a good framework for multilateral cooperation. Her address was followed by a moderated discussion with Ambassador Eric John, who headed the US' embassy in Thailand from 2007 to 2010. The two focused on a variety of domestic Thai issues, including the recently released truth and reconciliation report on 2010′s political conflict, the country's economic growth and widening gap between rich and poor, and Thailand's role in global food security. Regional topics also came up – including the ongoing reforms in Myanmar.
