Thailand has a higher percentage of elderly people than any other developing nation on earth. In just two years, Thai seniors will number 11.23 million, or 20 per cent of the population. By the year 2040, 17 million Thais (more than 25 per cent) will be over 65. As a rapidly ageing society, Thailand faces several serious challenges.

As Asean chair this year, Thailand must enhance the region’s cooperation amid growing US-China tensions that threaten to go beyond mere trade conflicts, international-relations experts said at a peace forum in Bangkok yesterday.