On 8 August 2019, His Excellency Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, as Chairman of ASEAN, attended the inauguration of the new ASEAN Secretariat building in Jakartaม Indonesia. The event was presided over by His Excellency Mr. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia who also signed the Inauguration Plaque and handed a Symbolic Key over to H.E. Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN. Also present were the other ASEAN Foreign Ministers and representatives, the diplomatic corps, as well as other dignitaries.

As ASEAN Chair, the Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered remarks following a report made by H.E. Mrs. Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and remarks given by the Secretary-General of ASEAN. The Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted that the establishment of the ASEAN Secretariat was one of the three important legacies of the first ASEAN Summit, held in Bali in 1976, along with the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), and Declaration of ASEAN Concord, all of which have become key cornerstones of ASEAN. At present, ASEAN has become a driving force for regional peace, stability and prosperity, as well as an effective partner in the global community of nations. ASEAN, therefore, requires an even stronger supportive institutional capacity. In this regard, the new ASEAN Secretariat headquarters will serve this purpose as well as contribute to enhancing ASEAN’s convening power by attracting even more ASEAN and related meetings which will help to reinforce ASEAN centrality and further promote ASEAN awareness. The Minister of Foreign Affairs also commended the building’s design concept that is green and inclusive which reflects ASEAN’s sustainability agenda.

On this occasion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also attended the celebration of the 52^nd ASEAN Day and the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Gallery, where Ms. Pannaphan Yodmanee, a Thai artist who is currently a Resident Artist under the ASEAN Artists Residency Programme of 2019. As part of the 52^nd ASEAN Day celebration, the Minister brought a message from His Excellency General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, and placed it inside a time capsule, that are being kept together with messages from the other ASEAN Leaders. All ten messages in the time capsule will be made public in the year 2042 at the celebration of the 75^th ASEAN Day.