On 4 November 2026, H.E. Prinat Apirat, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to ASEAN, attended the 6^th ASEAN–France Development Partnership Committee Meeting at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta.

During the Meeting, Ambassador Prinat advocated for enhanced ASEAN–France cooperation across various areas, particularly green transition, people-to-people exchanges, and sustainable development. She encouraged France to explore collaboration with the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD) in Bangkok and other relevant ASEAN Centres. She also reiterated Thailand’s proposed activity on young leaders’ network for sustainable development, to be launched towards the end of 2027. France expressed its willingness to support the initiative.

France reaffirmed its aspiration to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, reflecting the importance it attaches to ASEAN and its commitment to supporting ASEAN centrality and multilateralism. France places particular emphasis on energy connectivity, digital economy, sustainable development, public health, and maritime security, as well as advancing cooperation under the ASEAN–EU framework.

The Meeting also agreed to extend the current ASEAN–France Practical Cooperation Areas (PCA) for another year, with a view to achieving 100 per cent implementation of the remaining action lines.

The ASEAN–France Development Partnership was established in September 2020, during the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The Partnership was subsequently formalised through the convening of the inaugural ASEAN–France Development Partnership Committee Meeting on 4 March 2021.

Photo courtesy of the ASEAN Secretariat