Deputy Prime Minister Anutin reaffirmed his commitment on the international stage to promote ASEAN as a cornerstone of peace and prosperity, joining ASEAN leaders in signing four major declarations.
On 8 May 2026 at the Mactan Convention Center in the Republic of the Philippines, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, accompanied by his wife, attended the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN Summit. During the plenary session, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed Thailand's dedication to advancing ASEAN as a pillar of peace and prosperity, emphasizing that under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” ASEAN must maintain unity and adapt to a world facing intense volatility.
Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, revealed key points that the Deputy Prime Minister proposed three main approaches to strengthen the region: energy security by accelerating the ASEAN Power Grid and leveraging petroleum agreements, along with promoting renewable energy to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities.
Regarding food security, he suggested expanding the Thai–Singapore rice trade agreement to include other essential consumer goods to mitigate the impact of rising production costs, with Thailand ready to serve as a key player as a major global food producer. On citizen protection, he emphasized the ultimate goal of caring for the people, citing the successful coordination of evacuating thousands of Thai nationals from the Middle East crisis as proof of ASEAN cooperation's value.
Additionally, the meeting reached a significant agreement on the “Cebu Protocol” to amend the ASEAN Charter to accommodate Timor-Leste’s membership. The leaders also jointly endorsed four declarations covering maritime cooperation, responses to the Middle East situation, disaster management (ASPECT), and empowering youth in climate action, demonstrating ASEAN's readiness to systematically and sustainably overcome global challenges.