Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand will organize the ASEAN Day 2016 celebration during 4-5 and 8 August 2016 at Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mark the entry into 50^th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN.

On 4 August 2016, H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-Cha, Prime Minister will preside over the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Day 2016 celebration, with high-level Ministry officials and ASEAN Ambassadors in attendance. The celebration will begin with the ASEAN flag hoisting ceremony, followed by opening remarks by the Prime Minister and an opening of a photography exhibition displaying photos taken by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during her visits to ASEAN countries. These photos are also featured in “ASEAN Moments” a pictorial book published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, portraying ASEAN’s journey from its birth to the day its goal of becoming One Community is realized. The exhibition will be on display at the Ministry from 4 – 11 August 2016 and will later be displayed at Museum Siam from 29 August – 29 September 2016. Other activities include “ASEAN Quiz 2016” a national competition for students at middle school level on general knowledge about ASEAN as well as ASEAN mini-games and crafts workshops for participating in the event. 

On 5 August 2016, Department of ASEAN Affairs, in cooperation with ASEAN Association of Thailand, will organize a seminar on “ASEAN Community: Harmony in Diversity”  from 9.00 am – 12.00 pm at Vithes Samosorn. Contributing panelists include Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Culture; Mr. Teeraparb Lohitkun, National Artist in literature; and Ms. Jiranan Pitpreecha, SEA Write award-winning author; with Mr. Vitavas Srivihok, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a panelist and moderator. The seminar is open to the public and free of charge.

On 8 August 2016, the Ministry will host a Vin d'honneur in celebration of the Establishment Day of ASEAN, from 12.00 pm to 13.30 pm. Invitees to the function are members of diplomatic corps, former Thai Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of Thailand to ASEAN and high-level Ministry officials.

Department of ASEAN Affairs, in its capacity as the National ASEAN Secretariat, organizes ASEAN Day annually. ASEAN Day 2016 aims to increase awareness of the ASEAN Community among general public as ASEAN has officially become a Community at the beginning of this year. It is also considered a kick-start event celebrating the entry into the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN in 2016.