Paetongtarn’s diplomatic debut: Thailand’s PM faces global stage

Thailand’s youngest prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, kicked off her international leadership journey with a high-stakes appearance at the 3rd Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Leaders’ Summit in Doha, Qatar. This trip, running between October 2 to 4, marks her first official overseas engagement since taking office just a month ago.

The ACD holds special significance for PM Paetongtarn, as it was initiated by her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, during his premiership. Her visit underlines Thailand’s leadership in Asia as she pushes for the forum to evolve into a policy-level platform for deeper continental cooperation.

Thailand previously hosted the 2nd ACD Summit in 2016, and in a move cementing its role, the country will assume ACD’s chairmanship in January 2025.

Paetongtarn, the second female PM in Thai history, is currently the only woman among the 35 leaders in attendance. During the summit, she championed Thailand’s vision as a bridge between Asian nations, calling the ACD a “converging forum of Asia,” while also announcing several countries’ interest in investing in Thailand.

But the global spotlight doesn’t end here. Next up, the 38 year old Thai premier is set to attend the ASEAN Summits in Laos, where she’ll be expected to lead discussions on the Mekong River crisis and Thailand’s role in solving the region’s water management challenges. PM Paetongtarn will also tackle the political crisis in Myanmar, highlighting ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus.

Back home, the challenges are mounting. From an economic crisis affecting low-income citizens to ongoing political tensions, Paetongtarn’s leadership is already being tested, reported The Nation.

In related news, PM Paetongtarn made waves by being included in the prestigious TIME100 Next list of leaders for 2024, as announced by Time magazine. This remarkable recognition marks a significant milestone for the 38 year old politician, who has emerged as a trailblazer in Thai politics.

Elected as Thailand’s 31st Prime Minister following the dismissal of property tycoon Srettha Thavisin by the Constitutional Court, Paetongtarn stands out as the only Thai representative in the Leaders category of this influential list, which encompasses five categories: Artist, Phenoms, Innovators, Advocates, and Leaders.