On 26 November 2019, H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, led the Thai delegation to attend the 3rd ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit at Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO), Republic of Korea. The summit was co-chaired by the Prime Minister, as Chair of ASEAN, and President of the Republic of Korea.
 

      The Leaders discussed ways to further strengthen relations, key regional issues, as well as the implementation of President of the Republic of Korea’s New Southern Policy, which resonates with the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and, in particular, Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme of “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability.” The Leaders jointly adopted the ASEAN-ROK Vision Statement for Peace, Prosperity and Partnership to craft a collective approach with regard to the future direction of relations. The Leaders also expressed their commitment to deepening Strategic Partnership on three key issues including, sustainable security and human security, economic sustainability, and socio-cultural sustainability. 
 

      The Leaders agreed to promote connectivity based on close partnership, highlighting three key elements as follows: (1) providing greater economic opportunities to create an economic system that is resilient, innovative and beneficial for all. The Leaders welcomed the conclusion of text-based negotiations for all 20 chapters of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by 15 RCEP Participating Countries earlier this month in Thailand, with a view to signing the Agreement in 2020.  The second key is “Connecting the Connectivities” approach at both the regional and sub-regional levels, such as through the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, the ROK’s New Southern Policy, Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) and the Mekong-ROK Cooperation. The third key element is minimising the negative impacts of enhanced connectivity.
 

      The Leaders also agreed to address regional and global issues by making use of a resilient regional architecture based on ASEAN centrality, especially the situation in the Korean Peninsula. ASEAN stressed the importance of dialogue amongst all concerned parties in order to realise lasting peace and stability in a denuclearised Korean Peninsula. ASEAN stands ready to provide ASEAN-led platforms, especially the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), to facilitate the peaceful efforts to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula as well as promote stability in the Asia-Pacific region in a sustainable manner.
 

      The Prime Minister also attended side-events during 24-26 November 2019 including the Ground Breaking Ceremony of Busan Eco-Delta Smart City, ASEAN-ROK CEO Summit, ASEAN-ROK Culture Innovation Summit, ASEAN-ROK Startup Summit, and ASEAN-ROK Innovation Showcase, as well as visiting exhibitions by Thai agencies at ASEAN-ROK Exhibition on Public Service Innovation and ASEAN-ROK Smart City Fair.
 

      On 25 November 2019, the Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Korea. Both sides discussed key bilateral issues including supporting and connecting the ROK’s New Southern Policy with Thailand’s economic development policy, investment in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), cooperation on science, technology and innovation, water management, labour information exchange, as well as development partnership cooperation at sub-regional and regional levels. The two Leaders also witnessed the signing of three MOU’s on science, technology and innovation; investment cooperation in the EEC; and labour information exchange.