On 25 April 2025, Ms. Suchada Maktara, Director of the Political and Security Division, Department of ASEAN Affairs, attended via teleconference the 16^th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Inter-Sessional Meeting on Maritime Security (ARF ISM on MS), which was held in hybrid in Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

The meeting exchanged views on regional maritime security cooperation, including the protection and construction of undersea cables, marine environmental management and conservation, and digital port management. Progress on confidence-building measures under the ARF ISM on Maritime Security framework was also shared. Thailand underscored the importance of international cooperation in regulating and protecting submarine cables and reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

On this occasion, Mr. Pitak Wattanapongpisal, Director of the Marine Safety and Environment Bureau, Marine Department, Ministry of Transport of Thailand, also briefed the meeting on the outcome of the 2^nd ARF Training on Ferry Safety Capacity Building, co-chaired by Thailand and China on 28-31 October 2024 in Guangzhou.