On 8 June 2022, H.E. Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, attended the East Asia Summit Senior Officials’ Meeting (EAS SOM) via video conference. The Meeting was chaired by Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and SOM Leader of Cambodia. The Senior Officials of all other EAS Participating Countries and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN also attended the Meeting.

The Meeting reviewed the progress on the implementation of the current EAS Plan of Action over the past year and discussed possible areas of cooperation for the new Plan of Action to be adopted later this year. It also emphasised the importance of the EAS as the premier Leaders-led forum for strategic dialogues. Thailand reiterated the need for a paradigm shift aiming towards forward-looking cooperation and urged every country to exercise unweaving political wills, with a view to enhancing mutual trust and confidence. Thailand also highlighted cooperation in an open and inclusive manner under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) for mutual benefit.

The Meeting also had an extensive exchange of views on regional and international issues, including the ASEAN-centred regional architecture, the situations in Myanmar, South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and Ukraine.