The Summit will be held under the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth” and attended by Leaders and high-level representatives from both Asia and Europe. The Meeting will discuss key regional and international issues, in particular, on achieving a sustainable and inclusive post COVID-19 socio-economic recovery. Thailand will take this opportunity to support ASEM’s role in strengthening multilateralism as a way to manage shared global challenges, ranging from the COVID-19 economic recovery process, climate change, as well as geopolitical tensions among major powers, through the pursuit of a balance of all things approach. Furthermore, Thailand will push for tangible cooperation between Asia and Europe in areas of mutual interest, e.g., cooperation in clean technology to support our Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model, virtual student exchange through digital platforms, Asia-Europe connectivity, equal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccine certificates.

ASEM is the only summit-level forum between Asia and Europe, covering 3 main pillars - politics, economics and social and cultural cooperation. The Meeting is a venue for Leaders to exchange ideas and enhance mutual understanding between the two regions. Thailand is a founding member of ASEM and was host of the first ASEM Summit in Bangkok in 1996, and is the current Regional Coordinator for the ASEAN Group.