On 9 August 2014, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Acting as Foreign Minister attended Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) with US, India, Japan and the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The gist is as follows:

1. ASEAN PMC with Japan: The Meeting expressed appreciation on the Vision Statement that was adopted at the Commemorative Summit in Tokyot December 2013. ASEAN Foreign Ministers also welcomed Japan’s contribution of 100 million USD to the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) and Japan’s contribution of 20,000 million USD of Official Development Assistance to ASEAN for the next five years. Thailand highlighted ways on the way forward for the ASEAN-Japan partnership: 1) building infrastructure projects, better cross border management and facilitation, development of special economic zones 2) strengthen capacity of SMEs in ASEAN as well as development in the Mekong area 3) strengthen bonds between peoples such as exchange programme and 4) work closer together on addressing non-traditional threats.

2. ASEAN PMC with India: The meeting welcomed the signing of the ASEAN-India Trade in Services and Investment FTA Agreements at the upcoming ASEAN Economic Minister in Nay Pyi Taw, in August 2014. The meeting also highlighted the need to increase connectivity between ASEAN and India. On Thailand’s part, we emphasized on realizing the Thailand-Myanmar-India Trilateral Highway and Mekong-India Economic Corridor and for existing negotiation on the ASEAN-India Air Transport Agreement to resume.

3. ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: The meeting discussed and agreed that priority areas should be financial and food security. On Thailand’s part, we viewed that enhancing connectivity by employing concrete actions should be a main priority. We also welcomed China’s initiative to establish Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and is ready to join as founding member. In the area of financial cooperation, Thailand applauded the completion of the revision of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM). With regards to issue of food security, the events of Typhoon Haiyan and flood in Laos demonstrated the capacity of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTEER) in times of emergency. Thailand also highlighted the need to strengthen our cooperation to deal with emerging non-traditional threats, especially transnational crimes

4. ASEAN PMC with the United States: The meeting discussed on the future direction between ASEAN and the United States. On Thailand’s part, we expressed our appreciation for the continued support of the U.S. for ASEAN Centrality as well as cooperation in addressing non-traditional security challenges of common concern. Thailand also viewed that the U.S. can assist in capacity building areas to close the development gaps within ASEAN and expressed support for the works under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement on capacity building. Lastly, the Permanent Secretary emphasized on promoting closer bonds between our two peoples such as the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative that was launched December 2013 and the Fulbright US-ASEAN Visiting Scholar Initiative which will bring people from ASEAN and US closer together.

 Apart from ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences with US, Japan, India and the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers Meeting, Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Director-General of Department of ASEAN Affairs represented Thailand in the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences, which was held simultaneously, with European Union, and Canada. His Excellency Mr. Suvat Chirapant, Ambassador and Thai Permanent Representative to ASEAN attended the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences with Republic of Korea and Russia. These meetings discussed wide range of issues on future cooperation between ASEAN and Dialogue Partners to promote peace stability and prosperity in the region.