On 7 June 2014 Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Secretary, took the opportunity to update the positive progress of Thailand’s current political situation during bilateral meetings with high-level officials from China and New Zealand during the sidelines of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting held in Yangon, Myanmar.

The Permanent Secretary met H.E. Liu Zhenmin, Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China. They discussed important regional issues including the situation in the South China Sea. China hopes that the situation will not affect ASEAN as a whole. Thailand, as country coordinator for ASEAN-China relations, expressed the need in moving forward the implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties and Code of Conduct in South China Sea, which China fully supports. With regard to the current political situation in Thailand, China views that as internal affairs of Thailand and would like all parties to reconcile the differences and stability to return to Thailand.

During the bilateral meeting with Mrs. Stephanie Lee, Senior Official of ASEAN and ARF Asia-Pacific Regional Integration Division, the Permanent Secretary updated the progress of Thailand’s current political situation. He stressed that what Thailand was seeking to achieve in the long term is for Thailand to have sustainable democracy as the situation in Thailand earlier was not viable and the government did not fully function for many years. This objective is reflected in the actions and announcement of a Roadmap by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) with the aim to move the country towards reform and a sustainable democracy. Thus,Thailand hopes that our friends will not judge Thailand by using one viewpoint about democracy and election, as each country is different and would like other countries to view the long term relationship with Thailand as well as the long term mutual benefits.