On the 30th of March 2023, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, paid a visit to the Government House to meet with the Thai Prime Minister, General Prayuth Chan-ocha. The primary focus of the discussion was on the transboundary haze situation, which has been a persistent issue in the region.
During the meeting, the Thai Prime Minister expressed his concern about the detrimental effects of the haze on the health of the people and the tourism industry, not just in Thailand but also in neighboring countries. He requested that the ASEAN Secretary-General coordinate and organize urgent meetings with member countries to find ways to alleviate the situation and reduce the number of hotspots as soon as possible.
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn acknowledged the gravity of the situation and agreed that immediate action needs to be taken to find a solution. He assured the Prime Minister that ASEAN has a system in place that promotes cooperation and is prepared to facilitate concrete cooperation among member countries.
The transboundary haze situation has been a persistent issue in the region, caused by forest fires in Indonesia and other neighboring countries. The haze contains harmful pollutants that can cause serious health problems, particularly for those with pre-existing conditions. The tourism industry is also affected as travelers are discouraged from visiting areas where the air quality is poor.
As such, the cooperation of ASEAN member countries is essential to address this issue. The organization can facilitate communication and cooperation among member countries to find effective and sustainable solutions to this problem. It is crucial to act quickly to ensure that the people in the region can breathe clean air and that the tourism industry can thrive.
