Chindawongse ’87 Helps Lead Thailand Foreign Affairs

As director of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations division of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, Suriya Chindawongse ’87 is playing a key role in his home country in the creation of the ASEAN Community, an initiative intended to help Southeast Asia boost economic competitiveness and attract investors.

“The ASEAN division of the ministry is the focal point in preparing Thailand to become part of the ASEAN Community,” Chindawongse explains. “It is the national secretariat in all matters dealing with ASEAN integration, responsible for coordination on all issues related to the three pillars — political-security, economic, and socio-cultural.” He is coordinating preparations for political and security matters.

Chindawongse is also speechwriter for Thailand’s first woman prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra.

“The fundamental job of the diplomat is to create the best conditions for better understanding, from which will flow mutual benefits,” he says. “My job is to help people understand Thailand better and appreciate it as an open society and democracy that welcomes foreign investment and tourism and is a strong supporter of the ASEAN Community and the United Nations.”