On 3-4 February 2023, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat) and the 32nd ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta.

At the ACC Meeting, ASEAN Foreign Ministers (FMs) reaffirmed their support to Indonesia’s 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship under the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”, to enhance ASEAN centrality and its position as the center of economic growth in the region and beyond, through cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). ASEAN Foreign Ministers also followed up on issues discussed by Leaders during the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit in November 2022 in Phnom Penh, to expedite concrete implementation. This included building the ASEAN Community through the development of ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision, strengthening ASEAN’s capacity and institutional effectiveness, and promoting cooperation with external partners, as well as Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership.

At the AMM Retreat, ASEAN FMs exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. In this regard, DPM/FM encouraged ASEAN to use its platforms to build trust and confidence, and deepen constructive cooperation among all parties for sustainable peace, stability and prosperity of the region. DPM/FM also cautioned ASEAN not to get caught in geopolitical rivalries and tensions.

ASEAN FMs were further briefed on the implementation plan by H.E. Mrs. Retno L.P. Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, to move forward the Five-Point Consensus so as to build sustainable peace in Myanmar and the region. DPM/FM reiterated the need to engage with Myanmar as their cooperation is critical in addressing the situation, including transnational crimes, which directly affect Thailand and the region as a whole. DPM/FM also underlined the importance of building trust and confidence to create conducive environment for dialogues among parties concerned in Myanmar.

On this occasion, DPM/FM Don also updated the meeting on Thailand’s undertakings as the ASEAN Coordinator for Sustainable Development Cooperation and encouraged ASEAN to expedite efforts to realize Sustainable Development Goals. As the country coordinator for ASEAN-Japan relations, he also briefed on various commemorative activities for the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Relations in 2023.

In addition, DPM/FM, along with other ASEAN FMs, paid a joint courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia. DPM/FM also had bilateral discussions with FM of Indonesia, and H.E. Dato’ Erywan Pehin Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam.