On 27-28 January 2015, H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will lead the Thai delegation to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat) in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The invitation to the AMM Retreat was extended by H.E. Dato’ Sri Anifah Haji Aman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair in 2015.

The Retreat is the first ASEAN meeting at the ministerial level to be held this year. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs will discuss and exchange views with his ASEAN counterparts on various issues, including completion of the ASEAN Community building process and the development of the Post-2015 Vision. This meeting will also explore ways and means to enhance cooperation and capacities of ASEAN Member States to effectively address regional and global challenges including terrorism, transnational crimes, natural disasters, and to promote sustainable development. Furthermore, the meeting will discuss ASEAN centrality in the context of its relations with external partners and the evolving regional architecture, amidst changes in the regional landscape and beyond.

At the Retreat, Thailand will follow up on the issues raised by H.E. the Prime Minister of Thailand at the 25^th  ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, last November. These include the development of the Post-2015 Vision, ASEAN connectivity, establishment of special economic zones along border areas, people’s agenda for ASEAN Community building process, as well as measures to address non-traditional security threats.