On 5–6 August 2025, the Department of ASEAN Affairs hosted the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Working Group (SOM WG) Meeting at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, Bangkok. The Meeting was chaired by Malaysia in its capacity as the ASEAN Chair and attended by representatives from ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste, and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The Meeting discussed two key documents under the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), namely: (1) the Draft Recommendation Paper on the Revitalisation of the ARF; and 2) the Draft ARF Plan of Action 2026–2036, which will replace the current Plan of Action 2020–2025 set to expire this year.

The Working Group underscored the importance of the ARF as a platform for confidence-building and promoting preventive diplomacy in the region. The Working Group engaged in a comprehensive exchange of views on both documents, resulting in notable progress that will form a strong basis for subsequent negotiations and finalisation.

Thailand’s hosting of the Meeting underscores its proactive role in advancing multilateral cooperation under ASEAN and reaffirms its strong commitment to revitalising the ARF to enhance its role in preventive diplomacy and confidence-building—key elements in promoting stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region. The Meeting also reflects Thailand’s continued support for ASEAN centrality and Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.