Thai PM says to promote RCEP at G20 Osaka summit

BANGKOK - Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Wednesday that he will attend the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Osaka, Japan, to demonstrate Thailand and ASEAN's support for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

He told the media that in his capacity as prime minister and the chair of the 34th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit, he felt he needed to share the region's development with the G20 leaders.

"And because we (ASEAN plus 6) have already concluded to work in enhancing RCEP, we felt the need to inform the G20 members."

"The 34th ASEAN vision focuses on cooperation for sustainability in maintaining the pillars of the ASEAN Community," Prayut said, adding that the outcomes of the summit, including the role of ASEAN in the international arena, will be presented to delegates at the G20 Osaka summit.

The RCEP is a proposed free trade pact between the 10 member states of ASEAN and the six FTA partners of ASEAN -- China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India.