On 6 August 2014, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs acting as Foreign Minister attended the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting and the Special ASEAN-China Senior Officials Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The gist is as follows:
1. ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting: The main objective of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting  was to prepare for the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), ASEAN Meetings with Dialogue Partners (Post-Ministerial Conferences) and the ASEAN Regional Forum during 7 – 10 August 2014.

In this meeting, ASEAN Member States discussed on the direction and vision of ASEAN after year 2015 (Post 2015). The meeting agreed that one of the priority issues is to make ASEAN relevant to the people. In addition, the Meeting also viewed that closer cooperation and integration should take place along with sustainable development and environmental conservation. These include developments in food, energy and water security. On the political front, apart from maintaining peace in the region, ASEAN Member States will focus on good governance, combatting human trafficking, upholding international human rights and disaster management. 

In this meeting, Thailand played a significant role in the discussion on the post-2015. The focus would be on 1) people-centered development 2) strengthening ASEAN to cope with emerging issues arising from closer integration 3) maintaining ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture. In this connection, the Meeting appreciated Thailand’s paper on Preliminary Ideas on ASEAN Centrality and Strategic Approach to the Future Regional Architecture by promoting unity, cohesiveness and relevance in five dimensions: 1. ASEAN Centrality within ourselves 2) ASEAN Centrality vis-à-vis regional flashpoints 3) ASEAN Centrality vis-à-vis the major powers 4) ASEAN Centrality vis-à-vis the regional architecture and 5) ASEAN Centrality beyond ASEAN.

2. ASEAN – China Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting and Bilateral Meeting between Thai and Chinese Senior Officials : The main objective of the meetings was to prepare for the ASEAN – China Ministerial Meeting on 9 August 2014. In the ASEAN – China Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting, China and ASEAN member states complimented Thailand for its proactive role as ASEAN – China Country Coordinator since July 2012. Thailand has a significant role in enhancing ASEAN - China relations and strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership between both sides. There are significant developments in the 2+7 Cooperation Framework, which China proposed in the ASEAN – China Summit in 2013, including the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the upgrading of the ASEAN – China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) to include service and investment sectors, the proposal of Treaty on Good Neighbourliness, Friendship, and Cooperation between ASEAN and China, the proposal to designate the year 2015 as the ASEAN – China Maritime Cooperation Year, as well as welcome Thailand’s initiative on Mekong – Lancang sustainable development cooperation, which would be a foundation for Mekong – China cooperation in the future.

The meeting discussed the issues to be pushed forward in the ASEAN - China Ministerial Meeting, focusing on establishing measures to reduce tensions in the South China Sea through 3 approaches, which are 1) Intensify meetings between ASEAN and China to promote understanding between each other. 2) Expediting the negotiation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). 3) Setting up provisional measure under the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in parallel with the COC negotiation to create trust between concerned parties to prevent incidents at sea.

The 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings provides opportunity for Thailand to promote confidence towards the country through the demonstration that Thailand plays a significant role in moving ASEAN forward, particularly in ASEAN – China relations, which China and ASEAN member states have showed their acceptance and appreciation for Thailand’s role. The meetings also provide the opportunity for Thailand to clarify other related international issues.