On 20 and 21 September 2021, Thailand, as Asian Partner for Co-operation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and Albania co-hosted the 2021 OSCE Asian Conference under the theme “Common Responses to Emerging Challenges in Advancing Comprehensive Security”. This Conference aimed to address the impacts of COVID-19 on global efforts to advance comprehensive security across the three dimensions of political-military, economic and environmental, and human. As well as to discuss common responses to new security, innovative ways for post-pandemic economic and social revival with a view to improving security metrics.
The OSCE Asian Conference was participated by approximately 170 representatives from the OSCE participating States, Asian and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, international organisations, governmental agencies and academia registered to attend this year’s Conference. The Thai delegation was led by (1) H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; (2) H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, former Permanent-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador; (3) Mrs. Chulamanee Chartsuwan, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs; (4) Dr. Vilawan Mangklatanakul, Director-General of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs; (5) Ms. Morakot Sriswasdi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna; and (6) Dr. Amporn Marddent, Member of the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry (AWPR).
During the opening session, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs gave the opening speech, emphasising the importance of putting people front and centre of common responses to new security challenges, advancing a post-pandemic recovery scheme that prioritises more cooperation and less confrontation, and strengthening inter-regional cooperation – all factors contributing to a conducive environment of peace, security, stability and trust.
The 2021 OSCE Asian Conference successfully gave Thailand an opportunity to mainstream its human-centred approach to comprehensive security and to continue to advocate for international cooperation on security issues. Moreover, as the only ASEAN Member State currently involved in the OSCE forum, Thailand has also concretely achieved our long-standing aspiration to link the two organisations by facilitating the attendance of the ASEAN Secretary-General and a representative from the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry (AWPR) in the Conference.

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