On 27 April 2017, H.E. Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, attended the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Preparatory Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila, Philippines. 

 

The meeting discussed preparations for the 30th ASEAN Summit and related meetings. Permanent Secretary Busaya expressed her views on positive progress in the implementation of the ASEAN Political – Security Community Blueprint. 

 

As Thailand is ASEAN’s current Coordinator of ASEAN – GCC relations, Permanent Secretary Busaya also reported new initiatives as well as a proposal for a ministerial meeting between the ASEAN Member States and the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as she also highlighted Thailand’s role as the ASEAN Coordinator on seeking cooperation between the ASEAN Vision 2025 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals where Thailand organized a successful High-Level Brainstorming Dialogue on 31 March 2017. 

 

The ASEAN Senior Officials’ Preparatory Meeting plays a vital role in ASEAN by laying the framework for the 30th ASEAN Summit and related meetings such as the ASEAN Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Political – Security Community Council Meeting. H.E. Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand and H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be attending the 30th ASEAN Summit on 28 – 29 April 2017.