國際英語資訊:Thai government declares Nov. 4-5 as public holiday as Thailand hosts ASE

BANGKOK, Oct. 15 -- The Thai cabinet declared Nov. 4-5 as public holidays in Bangkok and its adjacent province of Nonthaburi as the government is scheduled to host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

Trisulee Trisaranakul, deputy spokeswoman of the Prime Minister's Office, told the media on Tuesday that the two-day special holiday was proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reduce traffic congestion and facilitate providing security for ASEAN leaders.

The ASEAN meetings will be held at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi province, adjacent to Bangkok. About 3,000 participants are expected to attend the meetings.

However Trisulee said it is up to the discretion of state enterprises, financial institutions and private companies to decide whether they would close on the designated holidays.

Trisuless said some units which provide service to the public are not able to close as their services may affect the operations of the public and the state.

The 35th ASEAN summit will be attended by leaders and delegates from 10 ASEAN member countries and those from China, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, India and the United Nations.