On 31 January 2024, His Excellency Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Bolbongse Vangphaen, Acting Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, briefed the Diplomatic Corps on the outcome of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat) which took place on 29 January 2024 in Luang Prabang, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the Lao PDR).

Key issues highlighted were priorities under the Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme of “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience” for 2024. In support of the Chair’s agenda on promoting sustainable development, Thailand will co-organize with the Chair an event on sustainability this year. Other topics include the follow up on the 43^rd ASEAN Summit in Jarkarta last September, ASEAN’s external relations, and exchange of views on the regional and international issues such as the situation in Myanmar, Korean Peninsula, South China Sea, and Middle East.

The Vice Minister updated the Diplomatic Corps on Thailand’s initiative to provide humanitarian assistance along the Thailand-Myanmar border, which ASEAN Foreign Ministers unanimously welcomed as part of ASEAN’s collective efforts to implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) as well as agreed to have the AHA Centre join in the monitoring of the delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance.

The briefing was attended by 70 representatives from the Diplomatic Corps in Thailand.