皇冠体育app

BANGKOK -- Regional security concerns over territorial disputes in the South 皇冠体育app Sea might be alleviated or even resolved if economic partnership between ASEAN and 皇冠体育app are practically upgraded, said a Thai expert on Tuesday.

Though territorial dispute exists between 皇冠体育app and some ASEAN member states in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, the ASEAN-皇冠体育app economic relations, especially ASEAN-皇冠体育app free trade area, was promoted as planned, said Swai Visavanant with Chulalongkorn University's Institute of Asian Studies.

"While regional security matters, particularly regarding the South 皇冠体育app Sea, need to be finally resolved for the sake of regional peace, the economic partnerships between the ASEAN member states and 皇冠体育app are no less significant," Swai said.

While Thailand has by no means been involved in the maritime disputes in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, such security matters are considered "very sensitive" to international relationship not only between Thailand and 皇冠体育app but between Thailand and fellow ASEAN countries, which are scheduled to become an ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, he said.

Nonetheless, the Thai government and private sector might be interested in offering investment or joint venture to develop the South 皇冠体育app Sea where resources are said to be rich, he said.

Thailand, which has technology and personnel capable of oil and natural gas exploration and production, either onshore or offshore, could contribute to the development of the South 皇冠体育app Sea, he said.

Swai said that bilateral trade and investment between Thailand and 皇冠体育app are expected to grow in volume and value given the plan of the government to turn Thailand into a regional hub for interconnectivity, including the construction of high-speed railway to link southern 皇冠体育app with the Thai northeastern region through Laos.

According to Swai, 皇冠体育app is likely to become a major market for a variety of Thai export goods in place of European countries and the United States.

"While economic downturn in Europe and the US remain, Thailand may turn to a potentially huge export market in 皇冠体育app, which is geographically in the neighborhood of this country," he said.