Deputy Permanent Secretary Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum attended the ASEAN Forum on Sub-regional Development: Converging Mekong sub-regional cooperation with ASEAN goals, emphasising the need to further strengthen sub-regional economic corridors during COVID-19 and ensure that ASEAN remains a key driver in global supply chain.

On 14 July 2020, H.E. Mr. Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, attended the ASEAN Forum on Sub-regional Development: Converging Mekong sub-regional cooperation with ASEAN goals, via videoconference. The Forum was initiated by Vietnam, as the current Chair of ASEAN, to promote synergies between the existing sub-regional frameworks and the ASEAN Community building process. It also provided a platform for consultation among relevant stakeholders on the opportunities and challenges posed on the Mekong sub-region and other sub-regional frameworks. The forum underlined the importance of enhancing regional connectivity, narrowing the development gaps and promoting sustainable development.

Deputy Permanent Secretary shared his views that given challenges in all aspects  posed by the COVID-19, all parties should further strengthen sub-regional economic corridors and ensure that ASEAN remains a key driver in global supply chain.  His key recommendations included (1) transform the transport networks into real economic corridors by reinforcing regional transport infrastructure as well as regulations and people-to-people connectivity (2) focus on the synergies and complementarities between sub-regional corridors and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025), in particular, on digital connectivity projects, including ASEAN Digital Hub.

Recommendations received from this Forum will be complied and submitted for consideration at the 27^th ASEAN Coordinating Council, to be held at the sidelines of the 53^rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting this September.