China president Xi Jinping looking on as his wife signs the guestbook during a meeting with Prayut and his wife on the sidelines of Apec summit in Bangkok. — AFP
BANGKOK: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders have adopted the Bangkok Goals for sustainability at their meeting, after a push by Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha to place a green economic model as a strategy for growth.
Thailand, as the host, had put sustainability at the front and centre of discussions that also included hot-button issues such as inflation, food and energy security and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Even before Apec, Prayuth had promoted the bio-circular-green, or BCG, economic model as a national agenda, citing the need to revamp Thailand’s economic and social development strategies to get the country out of the middle-income trap.
The model advocates steps to strengthen sustainable growth built on green economy where wastage is minimised, according to officials.
“The BCG economy model will be a key engine that drives tangible outcomes,” Prayuth said in his closing remarks at the summit.
“This will lay the foundation to drive the economic growth of the Asia-Pacific region in an inclusive, sustainable, environment-friendly and systematic manner.”
The Bangkok Goals outlines a set of targets on environment, trade and investment, and waste management.
It also emphasises climate change and commitments to member economies’ net-zero and carbon neutrality goals.
Apec economies represent more than 60% of world’s economic output. — Bloomberg
