On 30 October 2019, Mr. Suriya Chindawongse, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD) with Professor Banchong Mahaisavariya, M.D., President of Mahidol University at Mahidol University. 

The ACSDSD will be officially launched during the Opening Ceremony of the 35^th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Thailand on 3 November 2019. The Centre is located at the College of Management of Mahidol University, which also hosts the Center for Research on Sustainable Leadership.  The ACSDSD will play an important role in promoting sustainable development cooperation in the region through conducting studies and research, building capacity of ASEAN Member States, and promoting dialogue and concrete cooperation within ASEAN and with ASEAN’s external partners.  It will also be one of the concrete deliverables of Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship this year and is a part of Thailand’s investment for the sustainable future of ASEAN.