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WEF
Leaders descend to international forum in Bangkok
The Nation



BANGKOK:-- Thailand is ready to welcome foreign delegates of the World Economic Forum on East Asia to Bangkok, which includes the leaders of Indonesia, Bahrain, Vietnam and Laos.

According to the preliminary programme, Aung San Suu Kyi, chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD); Member of Parliament of Kawhmu Constituent, Myanmar, will join a one-on-on conversation with Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of World Economic Forum on June 1.

However, Sushant Palakurthi Rao, senior director and head of Asia at the World Economic Forum, told the media today that Myanmar President Thien Sein will skip the June 1 appearance. In the plan, Thien Sein was scheduled to describe "what does Myanmar’s recent reform mean for the region and the world?".

A source told The Nation that Thien Sein instead plan to make a state visit to Thailand during June 4-5.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong expects the event to run smoothly despite political protests.

"Those who plan protests should be reminded that we should do anything to impress our guests," he said.

The World Economic Forum on East Asia will take place for the first time in Thailand under the "Shaping the Region's Future through Connectivity" theme, where over 600 participants from 50 countries will convene in Bangkok during May 20-June 1.

The meeting in Bangkok will welcome over 50 public figures representing 20 countries. More than 450 business leaders, over 60 Global Growth Companies, 33 Young Global Leaders and 14 Social Entrepreneurs together with other members of civil society and academia will convene to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing East Asia today.

"This year's meeting is an exceptional opportunity not only for leaders from East Asia, but also from outside the region, as the ASEAN countries are a major evolving geopolitical and geo-economic pillar of the global economy," said Sushant Palakurthi Rao. "Our meeting is taking place at a time of tremendous economic and political transformation. Therefore, enhancing connectivity in the region will be critical to the region's future growth."

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will join the leaders in opening the forum on May 31.

"On Thailand's part, we are pleased to host the World Economic Forum on East Asia, which will not only be a great opportunity to showcase Thailand's progress in the economic and political sphere, but will also be a good chance for government and business leaders from around the world to discuss how to increase bilateral and regional cooperation," said Kittiratt. "The message that will emanate from the event will underscore East Asia's preeminent role in enhancing global economic growth and development, as well as the role that the region has and can play in addressing the challenges facing the region and the world at large."

The 21st East Asia meeting will also bring together key international public figures such as: Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD); Member of Parliament of Kawhmu Constituent, Myanmar; Susan M. Collins, Senator from Maine (Republican), USA; Márcio Favilla Lucca de Paula, Executive Director, Competitiveness, External Relations and Partnerships, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Madrid; Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism of Australia; Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director-General, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Sweden; Gloria Guevara Manzo, Secretary of Tourism of Mexico; Tatsuo Hirano, Minister for Reconstruction and Minister for Comprehensive Review of Measures in Response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, Japan; Idris Jala, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia; Pascal Lamy, Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO), Geneva; Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia; Rajat M. Nag, Managing Director-General, Asian Development Bank, Manila; Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva; Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General, ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations), Jakarta; Cesar V. Purisima, Secretary of Finance of the Philippines; Naoyuki Shinohara, Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington DC; and Kim Sung-han, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea.


-- The Nation 2012-05-28

Chiang Mai zoo celebrates panda’s birthday



CHIANG MAI, May 27 – Chiang Mai zoo on Sunday celebrates the birthday of panda Lin Ping, a three-year-old female panda born to a panda couple on loan from China as an “ambassador of friendship.”

Fruit and ice cakes, as well as bamboo leaves, were given to Lin Ping amid a lively and warm atmosphere at the event attended by Wisit Wichasil, Deputy Director of The Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand, Thanapat Pongpamorn, as well as about 500 visitors.

He said under the contract between the two countries, Lin Ping will stay in Thailand for one more year before returning to China.

Regarding Thailand’s request to seek approval from China to allow a further three-year stay for Lin Ping, he said there was no confirmation yet, including negotiations to seek extension for Lin Ping parents –Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui. The panda couple is due to return home to China in October 2013 when the ten-year loan expires.

Lin Ping was born to Lin Hui and Xuang Xuang on May 27, 2009 at Chiang Mai Zoo through Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT).

Her name which means ‘Forest of Ice’ in Chinese was chosen after a nationwide name selection contest that attracted about 22 million votes. “Ping” also sounds similar to the Thai pronunciation of Ping River which flows through northern Thailand near where the zoo is located.

The panda family is estimated to help boost an extra income of 25 million baht (about US$790,000) each year. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2012-05-27

Thai PM opens "Thai Kitchen to the World" event to promote Thai food industry
  


SYDNEY, May 27 - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra opened the 'Thailand: Kitchen to the World' event in Australia to promote the Thai food industry while encouraging more Thai investment in that country.

The premier is visiting Australia from May 26 to 29 as a guest of the Australian Government and as part of activities celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both nations.

Ms Yingluck earlier today met with 60 Thai businesspeople in Sydney to discuss and exchange ideas on trade and investment, as well as guidelines on how to promote Thai products in the Australian market.

Before presiding the ceremony, the prime minister provided a cooking demonstration on a Thai spicy salad which was well received by Australian media.

She gave a speech on her government's policy to promote "Thai Kitchen to the World," affirming Thailand as a major food exporting country that can contribute to food security under changing world condition, in which global warming and natural disasters may lead to food shortages.

According to Ms Yingluck, Thailand earns over US$20 billion from exporting food and is one of the world's leading rice exporters, while Australia is one of Thailand's main rice buyers at over 110,000 tonnes/year, with a growth rate of 5-10 percent annually.

She noted her hope that Thai food will remain listed as one of Australians' favourite cuisines, as it has consistently been ranked in the top-five in past years as popular food in the country.

The Thai government's "Thailand: Kitchen to the World" project aims to promote Thai food products, create awareness of food security concerns, and produce high-quality foods complying with international standards at competitive prices, with strategies covering the whole process from finding materials to add product value and aid distribution.

The Yingluck administration's main strategies include (1) expanding agriculture and food business, (2) adding value to agricultural produce with high-technology production processes, (3) supporting cooperation at regional and international levels, and (4) supporting Thai investments abroad, especially in building a network of Thai restaurant overseas.

The Commerce Ministry has worked on such strategies in many countries, including Australia, in order for Thai cuisine to be well known through Thai restaurants and department stores selling Thai food products worldwide, the premier said.

On Sunday afternoon local time, the prime minister visited Thai restaurants and Thai food importers at a Thai town area on Campbell Rd in Sydney. She will then fly to Canberra afterwards. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2012-05-27

Lady Gaga's Jakarta concert cancelled, promoters reveal

Jakarta - A concert by US pop star Lady Gaga in Indonesia has been cancelled following protests by hardline Islamic groups, the show's promoters said Sunday.

"We would like to announce regretfully that Lady Gaga’s concert for June 3 cannot be held," Minola Sebayang, spokesman for concert promoter Big Daddy Entertainment, said.

Indonesian police earlier this month refused to issue a permit for the concert, citing objections from some Muslim groups who deemed Gaga’s stage show to be "pornographic" and incompatible with local culture.

The Islamic Defenders’ Front, a small group known for sometimes violent protests, has threatened to mobilize to block the show.

Sebayang said the cancellation was prompted by the controversy.

"Lady Gaga is very concerned and respects the people of Indonesia so she doesn’t want anyone to get hurt or fall victim in her show," hesaid.

About 50,000 tickets had been sold for the Jakarta concert at the Bung Karno stadium. The promoter said tickets would be refunded.

Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, is known for her eccentric and risque outfits in videos and on stage.

Religious groups in South Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia protested against the concerts on her Born This Way Ball tour.

The shows in Seoul and Manila went ahead as scheduled.

The announcement in Jakarta came after Indonesian Security Minister Djoko Suyanto waded into the controversy last weekend and called for a compromise so that the concert could go ahead


-- The Nation 2012-05-27

UN observers confirms death of 92 people in Syrian town

Beirut - United Nations observers confirmed Saturday, after visiting a town in central Syria, that 92 people had died there - among them 32 children - in what activists said was shelling by government forces.

The head of the UN observers in Syria, Robert Mood, described the incident in the town of Houla as a "brutal tragedy."

Members of the UN team toured Houla to assess the situation after reports of a massacre in the town, where activists said more than 100 people were killed on Friday night after heavy shelling on the area by Syrian troops.

Blasts and gunfire were heard in Houla, 200 kilometres north of Damascus, as the observers arrived in the town, activists said.

The reported massacre was one of the worst in Syria’s 15-month uprising.

The rebel opposition Free Syrian Army (FSA) called on the UN to meet its responsibilities and stop the violence in Syria. Otherwise, it said, the group could no longer commit to the ceasefire brokered by UN-Arab League envoy, Kofi Annan.

Annan and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement condemning the killings.

"This appalling and brutal crime involving indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force is a flagrant violation of international law and of the commitments of the Syrian government to cease the use of heavy weapons in population centres and violence in all its forms," they said in a statement released in New York and Geneva.

"Those responsible for perpetrating this crime must be held to account," they said, calling on President Bashar al-Assad to end the use of heavy weaponry in populated areas and end all violence in the country.


-- The Nation 2012-05-27