Launching of ASEAN Cultural Year 2019
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has presided over an event to launch the ASEAN Cultural Year 2019, coinciding with Thailand serving as the Chair of ASEAN in 2019.
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The theme of the Thai ASEAN Chairmanship is "Advancing Partnership for Sustainability.” The Prime Minister stressed the need for ASEAN members to work in unison toward strategic partnerships, based on 3Ms (mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual benefit).
He said that ASEAN must also move toward the "4.0” era to keep pace with global changes amidst great competition and challenges, as well as promoting the global sustainable development agenda. This will help build up the ASEAN Community with the people as the center and without leaving anyone behind.
He said that cultural proximity brings all ASEAN members closer together. Despite some differences, they share many similarities and have lived together with good understanding for many years.
The Prime Minister was pleased with the initiatives of the Ministry of Culture to launch the ASEAN Cultural Year. He believed that ASEAN cultural diversity combined with ASEAN identities would help strengthen the ASEAN Community.
During the ASEAN Cultural Year, many cultural activities will be organized throughout 2019 both in Thailand and abroad to preserve ASEAN cultural diversity and develop ASEAN cultural heritage as a creative industry.
The Prime Minister also encouraged the people of Thailand and other ASEAN countries to join hands in making ASEAN culture better-known on the global stage. The announcement of the ASEAN Cultural Year is an effort to achieve the theme of "Advancing Partnership for Sustainability,” he said.
