Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs proposed to steer the ASEAN-China’s 30-year relations towards win-all cooperation and stressed joint efforts in combating COVID-19, especially on vaccine access and distribution as well as promoted sustainable recovery using BCG economic model for regional peace and prosperity.

On 3 August 2021, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting via video conference. H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, and the Secretary-General of ASEAN also attended the Meeting.

The Meeting expressed congratulations on the successful convening of the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in June 2021 in Chongqing and support for activities to commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China relations this year. The Meeting also discussed ways forward to enhance future cooperation, such as the COVID-19 response, including China’s support to establish production bases and distribution centres of vaccines in ASEAN, as well as security, economic, socio-cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchange. The Meeting also discussed activities and projects under the ASEAN-China Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation in 2021.

Thailand reiterated its commitment to enhancing cooperation on the COVID-19 response and post-pandemic recovery and supported China’s proposal to establish the production bases and distribution centres of vaccines in the region. Thailand also supported the activities under the ASEAN-China Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation and expressed its commitment to translating its paper on the List of ASEAN-China Cooperation Projects for Sustainable Future, proposed at the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, into concrete outcomes. Thailand also invited ASEAN and China to explore possible cooperation on Bio-Circular-Green or BCG Economy Model.

The Meeting also exchanged views on regional and international issues, including major power relations, the situations in Myanmar and South China Sea.