Thailand has proposed the prioritization of the three pillars of ASEAN in an effort to build a strong foundation for this regional grouping. The proposal was made by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on 4 April 2012, the final day of the two-day 20th ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Prime Minister stated that the success of ASEAN needed political support from all ASEAN leaders.
According to the proposal, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) should lead free trade agreements, which will facilitate direct investment within the bloc. Trade expansion needs to be based on a single standard in an attempt to attract more investments. Thailand will continue to give its full support in this area with the hope that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will conclude the launch of negotiations at 21st ASEAN Summit and the initiation of FTA dialogue in the final quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013.
The ASEAN Security Community (ASC) should lead to the creation of a regional body to combat potential terrorist threats within the region, while promoting democracy, the rule of law, and good governance. In addition, ASEAN should draw its attention to the issue of human rights (ASEAN Declaration on Human Rights), and give its support to the Protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty within 2012. Moreover, as raised during the 2012 Nuclear Summit, there should be a nuclear network development to strengthen regional cooperation. Thailand also raised an issue of the community without drugs as the country previously supported the statement adopted by ASEAN pertaining to the drug-free zone.
The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) should lead to increased cooperation with the goal to reduce transboundary haze pollution to at least 50,000 areas in the Mekong River Basin by 2015. In keeping with the regional support, Thailand proposed to assist with necessary technology and training to ASEAN members by the end of 2012.
Prime Minister Yingluck also proposed the creation of a community network to facilitate disaster management in order to create more effectiveness within the region. Thailand will continue to be watchful of the drug issue and cross-border crime, which may effectively impede growth in ASEAN.