On 27 August 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and the ASEAN Secretariat co-hosted the 10th ASEAN Connectivity Symposium: "Connecting ASEAN through Financing Sustainable Infrastructure" in Bangkok.
The event was attended by delegations from the SCO Secretariat, ASEAN member states, ASEAN sectoral bodies and dialogue partners, ERIA and international financial institutions, as well as experts and stakeholders from public and private sectors.
The participants discussed ways and means to foster regional connectivity through innovative financing options for infrastructure development and the way forward for the effective implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025).
This is in line with the theme of Thailand's ASEAN Chairmanship, "Advancing Partnership for Sustainability," which seeks to pursue sustainability in all dimensions as well as to realise a "Seamless ASEAN" linked to the world.
Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Arthayudh Srisamoot said in his opening remarks that ASEAN's projects intended to enhance regional connectivity are an effective tool for addressing the emerging political, economic and social challenges in the ASEAN countries.
He pointed out the importance of enhancing regional connectivity and analysing the possibility of connecting ASEAN initiatives to other regional initiatives, such as China's Belt and Road as well as Japanese and American projects.
During the debates, delegates from the ASEAN countries reported on the results of infrastructure projects in their respective countries.