23 September 2024

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin indicated today that his government will not be bound by the 20-year national strategy initiated by the Prayut administration, claiming that it is difficult for a nation to predict accurately what will happen in the next few years, not to mention the next 20, because the world is changing constantly and rapidly.

Chairing a meeting of the National Strategy Committee, the prime minister instructed the committee to set a framework for the national strategy, which is flexible and relevant to global changes, so that people will know in which direction Thailand is heading and all stakeholders are headed in that direction.

He said that the strategy must not be an obstacle to decision making on future development or the future of the country.

While having a long-term national strategy is a good idea, the prime minister said that he does not believe in a strategy which looks too far into the future, because the world is changing rapidly to keep pace with new technology.

He said that, about three years ago, clean energy was not an issue at international conferences. Today though, the issue is a must in international negotiations and most governments are now trying to attract talented people to work in their countries, he added.

On the rivalry between the world’s two super powers, the United States and China, the prime minister said that, as recently as four years ago, the two nations did not compete against each other as fiercely as they do today.