On 4 April 2024, H.E. Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, attended the 28^th ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Dialogue in Seoul, the Republic of Korea.  

The meeting discussed the enhancement of cooperation between ASEAN and the ROK in various fields as well as the preparation toward the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in conjunction with the 35^th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK relations in 2024. The meeting also exchanged views on regional and international issues, where Thailand took the opportunity to update on the implementation of its initiatives on humanitarian assistance to Myanmar.

Thailand proposed ways forward to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and the ROK in response to emerging health challenges. Priority areas include capacity building through collaboration with the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) of which Thailand will serve as the Secretariat and the Response Centre, digital health, active aging through collaboration with ASEAN Centre for Active Aging and Innovation (ACAI) in Thailand. Thailand also took this opportunity to reaffirm its readiness to play an active role as the incoming Country Coordinator for ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations during 2024-2027.

Prior to the Meeting, on 3 April 2024, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs had a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Chung Byung-won, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs and Senior Official of the ROK, reaffirming Thailand’s determination, as the incoming Country Coordinator, to move forward ASEAN-ROK relations while strengthening the bilateral relations with the ROK for mutual benefits.