On 2 June 2017, H.E. Mr. Panyarak Poolthup, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered the opening remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the Disability-Inclusive Drum Performance in ASEAN and Japan at the Vayupak Convention Center, Government Complex. The event was jointly organized by the Asia – Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) and the Nippon Foundation to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN and the 130th Anniversary of Thailand – Japan Diplomatic Relations in 2017. 

 

The Deputy Permanent Secretary highlighted the importance of empowering and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in the ASEAN Community noting that the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 clearly envisioned an inclusive, people-centred, and people-oriented ASEAN Community. He also emphasized Thailand’s role in promoting the ASEAN Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2011 – 2020. With the implementation of the “Thailand 4.0” Policy, Thailand recognizes the importance of science, technology, and innovation as instrumental in facilitating and reducing barriers for persons with disabilities to provide them with equal access to public services and facilities. The Deputy Permanent Secretary also stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is determined to make key documents of ASEAN available to persons with disabilities. In 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs produced a Thai and English braille translation of the ASEAN Charter and the outcome document of the ASEAN – EU Ministerial Meeting held in Bangkok last year.