On 19 July 2012, H.E. Mr. Somchai Charanasomboon, Thai Ambassador to the UAE and current Chair of ASEAN Committee in Abu Dhabi (ACAD), led 6 ASEAN Ambassadors and Chargés d’Affaires in the meeting with H.E. Dr. Jasim Al Khalufi, Director of Asian Affairs Department, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was the first joint meeting between ASEAN Heads of Missions and the newly appointed Director of Asian Affairs Department, who assumed his position last month.
            H.E. Ambassador Somchai began the meeting by briefing on the background of ASEAN and ACAD. Afterwards, both sides discussed possible areas of collaboration as well as regional and global issues in their focus, including anti-piracy, renewable energy, situation in Myanmar and Syria.
            The joint meeting was the first significant activity under Thai chairmanship of ACAD from July to December 2012. ACAD under Thai chairmanship will carry out further activities to promote comprehensive cooperation between ASEAN and the UAE as well as to raise ASEAN’s profile in the UAE.