Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Sunday urged the conclusion of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations within 2019 to stimulate economic growth as well as trade and investment in the region.

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Addressing the opening ceremony of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, the Thai prime minister also called for continued support for the multilateral trade system under the purview of the World Trade Organization as well as regional and sub-regional economic cooperation frameworks so as to enhance the economic resilience of ASEAN and the region.

The 35th ASEAN summit and the related summits kicked off on Sunday with a focus on multilateralism and connectivity.

Under the theme "Advancing Partnership for sustainability," the ASEAN summit will sum up the bloc's achievements in community building and integration during 2019, tap the opportunities arising from digital transformation and seek solutions to economic uncertainties facing the bloc.

Thailand holds the rotating chair of the ASEAN for 2019.

Established in 1967, ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. 

(With input from Xinhua)