On 9 September 2020, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, attended the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting via video conference. H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, also participated in the Meeting.

The Meeting discussed the way forward to advance ASEAN-China cooperation, particularly in response to COVID-19. China stressed its commitment that a vaccine, once available, will be a global public good and announced its contribution of 1 million USD for COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund and 5 million USD for projects under the ASEAN-China cooperation on public health. Thailand supported the use of the Response Fund to develop joint R&D programmes on vaccines, medicines and related technologies. Thailand also stressed the importance of supply chain connectivity, digital economy and support for MSMEs and start-ups. Thailand also supported China’s proposal to mark 2021 as the ASEAN-China Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation and encouraged the use of the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue in Thailand.

The Meeting also took note of Thailand’s Paper on “Best Practices and Non-Binding Guidelines for Cooperative Actions in Marine Environmental Protection in the South China Sea” which has reflected Thailand’s active role in promoting win-win cooperation, particularly in marine environmental protection in the South China Sea.