The Cabinet approved preparations for Thailand to serve as ASEAN Chair in 2028 to ensure the role is performed effectively, with honor and dignity, as one of ASEAN’s founding countries.
On 27 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Ploytale Lakshmisangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, announced that the Cabinet resolved to designate the ASEAN Chairmanship as a national agenda during 2027–2028 and assigned the National ASEAN Committee additional authority to oversee overall preparations and Thailand’s chairmanship duties in 2028, from the date of approval until 31 Dec 2028 GMT+7.
Ms. Ploytale outlined the benefits of Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship as follows:
1) Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2028 presents a key opportunity to strengthen Thailand’s leadership role in enhancing ASEAN’s resilience and advancing agendas that address emerging challenges, delivering tangible benefits to the Thai people. Thailand can leverage this to build on its strengths and initiatives across various areas into common ASEAN priorities, thereby boosting both the region’s capacity to adapt to change and Thailand’s role as a constructive member shaping ASEAN’s future direction.
2) Thailand’s chairmanship is not merely hosting international meetings but a major national endeavor requiring integration and mobilization of resources from all sectors. Thailand will host over 100 meetings and activities across multiple levels, necessitating systematic budgeting, staffing, and coordination among relevant agencies to perform effectively, with honor and dignity as a founding ASEAN member. This also offers Thailand the chance to demonstrate its readiness and capabilities, enhance its regional leadership and credibility, and drive ASEAN-wide issues that yield concrete benefits.