On 15 November 2024, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended a keynote address delivered by H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, at the APEC CEO Summit 2024, on the topic of “Ageing, Pandemics and the Path to Innovation” at the Grand National Theater in Lima, Peru.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister shared her policy vision on health issues and aging society management, which are pivotal for economic growth of the Asia Pacific. She further elaborated on Thailand’s success in implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the use of Digital Technology to improve health services, including 30-baht Healthcare Anywhere, telemedicine and Health-link. the Prime Minister also reaffirmed Thailand's readiness to be a regional and global medical hub through partnership with the private sector in Thailand’s Care and Wellness Economy. Thailand has taken a leading role in promoting the health agenda in APEC since its hosting of APEC in 2003, where the Health Task Force (HTF) was established in response to SARS. This mechanism has since developed into the Health Working Group under the APEC workstream.

The annual APEC CEO Summit has been the premier business event in the Asia-Pacific region for over 30 years. This year’s Summit was organised under the theme “People, Business, Prosperity,” and was attended by over 1,000 executives across the Asia-Pacific region. Other APEC Leaders invited to speak at the forum included Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea.