On 23 September 2021, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, attended the ASEAN-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State and H.E. Mrs. Retno Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, as Country Coordinator for ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue Relations.

The Meeting discussed the continued cooperation between ASEAN and the U.S. in building back better from COVID-19 while highlighting the U.S. leading role in ensuring global vaccine equity as the U.S. President recently pledged to donate an additional 500 million doses of vaccines to the world at the Global COVID-19 Summit on 22 September 2021. Both sides emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation that contributes to joint efforts in rebuilding a robust and sustainable post-pandemic future. This included areas such as global health security, supply chain connectivity, climate change, and green economy. The Meeting also exchanged views on regional and international issues, wherein the U.S. reaffirmed its support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). The U.S. will soon release a new comprehensive Indo-Pacific strategy for a free, open, interconnected, resilient and secured region, in which ASEAN’s critical role will be reflected.

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted ASEAN-U.S. collaboration in ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, and proposed a paradigm shift that focuses on optimisation in advancing towards a greener and sustainable future. He also expressed readiness to work with the U.S. on climate change agenda as Thailand will assume APEC Chairmanship in 2022. Moreover, in the light of increasing geo-political challenges, the Deputy Prime Minister urged the U.S. to enhance commitment to a peaceful environment in the region conducive to post-COVID-19 recovery.

The ASEAN-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in hybrid format on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 76). The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, participated the meeting in person while other countries attended through an online conference.

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— กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ | MFA of Thailand (@MFAThai) September 24, 2021