Sihasak outlines ASEAN priorities on regional resilience, integration, energy and food security.
Mr Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, delivered a keynote address at the 41st ASEAN Roundtable in Singapore on 5 November 2026, highlighting the need for ASEAN to respond more effectively to regional and global challenges. Organised by the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute at Hilton Singapore Orchard, the event was held under the theme “Navigating Polycrisis: Can ASEAN Deliver When It Matters?”
The keynote address was followed by an interactive discussion involving members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of academic institutions and scholars in Singapore. The session was moderated by Mr Ng Chee Khern, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute.
The 41st ASEAN Roundtable provided an opportunity for participants to exchange views on ASEAN’s capacity to navigate multiple and interconnected crises and deliver effective regional responses. Discussions centred on the challenges facing the region and the priorities required to maintain ASEAN’s relevance and effectiveness in an evolving international environment.
In his address, Mr Sihasak emphasised the importance of enabling ASEAN to adapt to changing circumstances and respond to crises with greater speed and effectiveness. He highlighted the need to advance regional integration and uphold ASEAN Centrality, while enhancing energy and food security to address emerging challenges affecting the region.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also outlined Thailand’s commitment to maintaining continuity in ASEAN’s key priorities when the country assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2028, following Singapore’s chairmanship.
He emphasised Thailand’s readiness to carry forward the regional agenda and support the delivery of practical outcomes that would benefit ASEAN member states and their peoples.
The discussion also provided an opportunity for participants from diplomatic, academic and research communities to engage with Thailand’s perspectives on ASEAN’s future direction and regional cooperation.
Thailand’s forthcoming ASEAN Chairmanship in 2028 will follow Singapore’s tenure, with continuity in the association’s priorities remaining an important consideration. Thailand expressed its commitment to contributing to ASEAN’s collective efforts to address regional challenges and deliver tangible benefits for the region and its peoples.
Source: Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore
