H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to attend the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations and the Sixth Mekong - Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 6-8 June 2021 in Chongqing, the People’s Republic of China, upon the invitation by H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.

The Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will review the developments and achievements of the dialogue relations over the past 30 years in all dimensions, discuss future directions of cooperation, and exchange views on regional and international issues as well as the implementation of activities under the Years of Sustainable Development Cooperation in 2021 and 2022. The Joint Statement of the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting as the outcome document will be adopted.

Thailand will push forward cooperation on sustainable development as a main goal for the future ASEAN-China partnership. Thailand will highlight the importance of rapid regional recovery in a sustainable manner in both public health and economic sectors while exploring new cooperation areas of mutual interests, including implementations of the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model, in tandem with promoting peace, security and stability in the region.

In addition, the People’s Republic of China will host the 19th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (SOM on DOC) during this Special Meeting. The SOM on DOC will discuss the way forward towards the negotiations of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

The Sixth Mekong - Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will review the progress of MLC and exchange views on way forward for the sub-regional cooperation. The Meeting will discuss the following key issues among others: (1) cooperation on public health and pandemic responses, especially production and distribution of vaccines and use of traditional medicine in the prevention and treatment of emerging infectious diseases, (2) post-COVID-19 sustainable economic recovery, particularly through the development of special economic zones (SEZs) in the border areas and the establishment of an innovation corridor to support the SEZs, focusing on the Bio-Circular-Green Economy-related industries, (3) sustainable development, with the emphasis on environmental protection and food security, (4) promotion of people-to-people contacts, especially youths, and (5) identifying strategic priroity of the new Five-Year Plan of Action of MLC (2023 - 2027).

On the same occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs is also scheduled to have bilateral meetings with the State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, and with other Foreign Ministers from ASEAN Member States to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues.