On 12 January 2026, H.E. Ms Prinat Apirat, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to ASEAN, presented the Letter of Credence to  H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, at the ASEAN Secretariat. The presentation of Credentials was witnessed by the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political Security Community, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community, and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, as well as the ASEAN Secretariat’s director-level and officers.

In the ensuing discussion, both sides exchanged views on ways to promote ASEAN cooperation for the benefit of the peoples in the region, including on the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the diversity of the ASEAN Secretariat staffs, and the advancement of Thailand’s role as the ASEAN Coordinator for Sustainable Development Cooperation.  Ambassador Apirat also reiterated Thailand’s full support for the operationalisation of the ASEAN Secretariat and for the priorities under the Philippines Chairship, including the conclusion of negotiations on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which Thailand is chairing.

The Secretary-General commended Thailand’s proactive role in ASEAN as host of several ASEAN Centres of Excellence, including the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD), and the ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI), as well as the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) in which the Secretariat Office and the ACPHEED Centre for Response and Risk Communication will be hosted in Thailand.

Photo Courtesy of the ASEAN Secretariat