On 21 February 2025, Mr. Paisan Rupanichkij, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented the Permanent Secretary at the 23rd ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (SOM-DOC) held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia.

The meeting discussed the implementation of the DOC, particularly practical maritime cooperation initiatives and took note of the Work Plan for 2025, including Thailand’s follow-up activity to the Track 1.5 Workshop on Marine Environmental Protection (MEP) in the South China Sea held in Bangkok in May 2024.

In addition, the meeting welcomed the progress of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) negotiations and provided guidance towards the early conclusion of the COC negotiations within the agreed timeline.