During 9-11 October 2024, Mr. Maris Sangiampong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, joined the Thai delegation led by Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, to attend the 44^th and 45^th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, who is the ASEAN Chair for 2024, having steered ASEAN through the year under its chosen theme of “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”. Prior to this, on 8 October 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs had attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), the 28^th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting, and the 35^th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting in preparation for this year’s ASEAN Summits.

During the ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, the Thai delegation exchanged views with other ASEAN Member States to find common approaches in addressing important and urgent situations and matters currently facing the region, including security issues such as transnational crime, drug trafficking, online fraud, as well as the convening of an Extended Informal Consultation in Thailand to discuss the situation in Myanmar. In addition, the Thai delegation advanced cooperation in sustainability through consolidated efforts on climate action and carbon neutrality, clean energy transition, green economy and promoting smart farming, regional energy connectivity and resilience, and cross-border water management, as well as supporting economic growth in the region through the promotion of digital connectivity, digital upskilling for MSMEs and conclusion of ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) by 2025. In addition, the Thai delegation emphasised that ASEAN must reinforce its centrality and unity in engaging with external partners and that Thailand is ready to play an active role as promoter of peace and common prosperity to achieve a conducive environment for development.

In meetings with ASEAN dialogue partners, the Thai delegation promoted cooperation on economic integration and connectivity, people-to-people ties, and addressing non-traditional security issues (27^th ASEAN-China Summit); cooperation in advanced technology, the digital and creative economy (25^th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit); cooperation in the digital economy, the green agenda and energy transition, as well as promoting joint innovation (27^th ASEAN-Japan Summit); cooperation in sustainable development of the region, and cooperation in transnational crime, food security, water management and financial stability (27^th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit); promoting physical, economic and people-to-people connectivity, and cooperation with India through the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand (21^st ASEAN-India Summit); cooperation on human security, public health, green innovation, tackling trans-boundary haze and food security through smart farming (4^th ASEAN-Australia Summit); support the region’s digital transformation, and cooperation on water resources management under the Mekong-US Partnership Framework, which Thailand will co-chair with the US in 2025 (12^th ASEAN-US Summit); promoting trade and investment through the ASEAN-Canada FTA and building digital capacity for entrepreneurs in the region (Special ASEAN-Canada Summit); while reaffirming Thailand’s commitment to strengthening the East Asia Summit (EAS) Process and fostering cooperation under the EAS Plan of Action for regional peace and prosperity (19^th East Asia Summit).

In addition, the Thai delegation joined discussions with representatives from the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and ASEAN Youth. These key platforms aimed at an open exchange of views and strengthening relations between ASEAN Leaders and various sectors in ASEAN. Here, Thailand underlined the need to support and promote interactions among all sectors to drive the creation of a truly people-centered ASEAN Community. The Thai delegation also attended the 14^th ASEAN-UN Summit and the 2^nd Asia Zero Emission Community Leaders’ Meeting, aimed at promoting the development of carbon reduction innovations and an energy transition towards carbon neutrality in Asia. The outcome documents of the ASEAN Summits and Related Summits can be found at https://asean.org/44th-and-45th-asean-summits-and-related-summits/