On 3 August 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand by Department of ASEAN Affairs, in collaboration with Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs, organized the “50^th Anniversary of ASEAN Special Lecture Series” with the Honourable Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, as Keynote Speaker. H.E. Mrs. Nongnuth Phetcharatana,                                                     

          Dean of Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs, gave an opening remarks on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Special Lecture is one among many activities organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN throughout 2017, intended as inclusive diplomacy to foster Thailand’s prominent role as co-founder of ASEAN, the significance of ASEAN in the Asia-Pacific region, and public awareness of ASEAN

          In her lecture, Minister Bishop highlighted Thailand’s leading role in managing regional conflicts which eventually gave rise to ASEAN in 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand’s significant role and its influence over security and development issues in the region. As ASEAN’s first dialogue partner, Australia and ASEAN recognized the strong and long-standing ties shared by both by elevating the relation and partnership to Strategic Partnership in 2014 with Summit to be held biennially, the first of which was in 2016.

          Minister Bishop pointed out that perhaps the most important factor binding ASEAN and Australia are extensive personal ties forged through diaspora community. Currently, almost one million Australian residents, in a population of 24 millions, claim ASEAN ancestry. Nearly one hundred thousand students from ASEAN countries studied in Australia in 2016.

           Looking into the future, Minister Bishop believes that innovation is an exciting area        in which ASEAN and Australia could further collaborate for mutual benefits. Furthermore, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull proposed to host the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit next year to deepen the engagement, while at the same time looking forward to working closely with Thailand in 2019 during its ASEAN Chairmanship.

          Following the lecture, guests were invited to the ASEAN Day Reception and to the exhibition on the 50^th Anniversary of ASEAN, in front of Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, with special display of replica of the ASEAN Declaration signed by its founding fathers in Bangkok in 1967.

          The event was a great success, with approximately 200 attendants, including members of diplomatic corps, representatives from international organizations, government and public sector, Thai and foreign media and academia. This lecture was the third in the ASEAN Special Lecture Series, initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand to raise awareness about ASEAN on the occasion of its 50^th anniversary.

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