His Excellency Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat held on 5 – 6 February 2018 in Singapore. The meeting exchanged views on ASEAN’s priorities in 2018 and directions to promote ASEAN Community building effort, regional and international issues of common concern, non-traditional challenges and reinforcement of an open, transparent and inclusive regional architecture based on international laws and principles.

 

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers welcomed Singapore’s initiative to promote “Resilient and Innovative ASEAN” which includes the building of ASEAN Smart Cities Network that would promote sustainable growth, sustainable development and better mutual understanding including cultural links. The meeting also discussed other initiatives under Singapore's ASEAN chairmanship, namely arrangements of ASEAN Leaders’ Vision for Resilient and Innovative ASEAN and ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Cybersecurity Cooperation which aims to strengthen ASEAN’s resilience and promote sustainable development in order raise a high quality of life among people in the ASEAN Community.

 

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers also exchanged views on enhancing cooperation to address emerging challenges from non-traditional security issues including Thailand’s initiatives on establishment of ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation and ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue, to help promote the building of the ASEAN Community that leaves no one behind and support sustainable development in the region.