Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Paethongtarn and ASEAN leaders participated in the signing ceremony of the "Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Planning Our Shared Future," endorsing the draft ASEAN Community Vision 2045 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Malaysia.
According to Thai News Agency, the ceremony took place at 5:15 p.m. local time, with the Malaysian Prime Minister delivering an opening speech before inviting ASEAN leaders to the stage to sign the declaration. The Malaysian Prime Minister, serving as the ASEAN Chair in 2025, was the first to sign, followed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines, the ASEAN Chair in 2026, and other member countries in alphabetical order. Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra signed as the sixth leader, following the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore.
The Prime Minister of Malaysia presented the signed declaration to the ASEAN Secretary-General, culminating in a group photo featuring the traditional ASEAN Way handshake. The declaration aims to enhance cooperation across political, security, economic, socio-cultural, connectivity, and institutional sectors, contributing to a strong, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered ASEAN Community.
Signing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 is expected to benefit Thailand by fostering relations and collaboration among ASEAN member states and beyond. It aligns with Thailand's goals to enhance safety and security, labor development, public health, connectivity, sustainable infrastructure, and climate change initiatives, consistent with the nation's governmental policies.