On 29 April 2017, the H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, attended the 30th ASEAN Summit and related meetings with H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transportation, in Manila Philippines. 

 

The Prime Minister attended four ASEAN meetings: (1) 30th ASEAN Summit Plenary Session, (2) 30th ASEAN Summit Retreat, (3) ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and (4) ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Youth. The Prime Minister also attended the 10th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand-Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).

 

The meeting recognized positive progress in the South China Sea towards mutual benefit and encouraged the drafting of a framework for a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea between ASEAN and China by the middle of the year as scheduled. The meeting also expressed concerns about the situation in the Korean Peninsula and hoped that all sides involved are mindful to avoid conflict and encouraged the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula by calling on all sides to comply with its obligations arising from all relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions in order to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific Region.

 

During the IMT-GT, the Prime Minister emphasized the geographical significance of Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia in supporting the ASEAN region especially in the construction of infrastructure for growth and organization. He also supported the establishment of a 3rd 5-Year Plan (2017-2021), for which Thailand emphasized the importance of developing infrastructure, innovation, and sustainable development.

 

The ASEAN Member States signed the ASEAN Leaders Declaration on the Role of the Civil Service as a Catalyst for Achieving ASEAN Community Vision 2025 in support of strengthening the civil service which plays an essential role in the development of the ASEAN Region and improving the standard of living for the people of the ASEAN Community through the public sector.

 

The 30th ASEAN Summit was organized during the 50th Anniversary of the founding of ASEAN and is chaired by the Philippines. The Prime Minister and other ASEAN leaders emphasized the need for ASEAN to review and consider greater focus on forming an ASEAN Community that is people-oriented and people centered.