On 18 – 19 June 2025, H.E. Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, was invited to attend the 38th Asia - Pacific Roundtable (APR) with the theme “Recalibrating Asia’s Frontiers” organized by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS Malaysia) on 17 - 19 June 2025 at the Hilton Hotel Kuala Lumpur, with more than 1,000 participants.

 

On 18 June 2025 Datuk Prof. Dr. Mohd Faiz Abdullah, Chairman of ISIS Malaysia, delivered welcoming remarks to participants of the 38th APR, emphasizing the role of this forum as a Track II diplomatic - academic platform that has grown continuously for nearly 40 years.

On 19 June 2025, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, delivered the keynote address, reaffirming Malaysia’s non-alignment stance while being ready to promote comprehensive cooperation with various partners, upholding multilateralism amid current geopolitical challenges, and setting goals for a proactive role as ASEAN Chair in 2025, focusing on regional integration through deeper economic integration, strengthening cooperation in energy, food security, digital economy, artificial intelligence, etc.

 

The Ambassador was pleased to meet and discussed with the Thai delegation, including Prof. Dr. Chanintira na Thalang, Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University, an invited panelist in a discussion on "Dynamics of contemporary leadership in Southeast Asia" alongside academics from Australia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia; Asst. Prof. Dr. Pongphisoot Busbarat, Director of Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS Thailand), an invited panelist in a discussion on "Evolving geopolitics of minilateralism" alongside academics from Singapore, Italy, Russia, and New Zealand; Dr. Fuadi Pitsuwan, President of Surin Pitsuwan Foundation, an invited panelist in a discussion on "The Myanmar crisis: the road ahead" alongside academics from Indonesia, Myanmar, ICRC, and Malaysia; and Prof. Dr. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Senior Fellow, ISIS Thailand, an invited panelist in a discussion on "The United States in a changing Asia" alongside academics from China, the United States, South Korea, and India. Additionally, the Ambassador also exchanged views on Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship this year with Prof. Simon Tay, Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)

 

The Asia-Pacific Roundtable is a beneficial forum that provides opportunities for academics, experts, and policymakers from various countries to engage in constructive discussions and exchange views annually.