On 28 March 2023, Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations, co-chaired the 38th ASEAN-Japan Forum in Tokyo with Mr. YAMADA Shigeo, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. Held in commemoration of the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in 2023 this Forum was attended by ASEAN Senior Officials and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat. The Senior Official of Timor-Leste was also present as an observer.

The Forum discussed preparation for the commemorative events, including the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit to be held in Tokyo in December. ASEAN welcomed Japan’s request to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and both sides discussed the way forward for their cooperation in the future. The Forum also had an extensive exchange of views on regional and international issues, including the situations in Myanmar, the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and Ukraine.

Thailand highlighted some priority areas of cooperation to further strengthen ASEAN-Japan partnership. These included promoting people-to-people exchanges, especially among the youth, long-term economic resilience, sustainable development, public health system, and cyber security.

Thailand also reaffirmed her readiness to cooperate with Japan and other ASEAN member states to ensure this commemorative year of the Golden Jubilee would result in a great success.