The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, participated on July 12th, 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand, in the Informal Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, U Tin Maung Swe, held under the chairmanship of the Philippines and organised by Thailand.

This informal meeting marked the first face-to-face meeting between the foreign ministers of ASEAN and Myanmar since the events of 2021. This initiative followed the decision by ASEAN leaders, during the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, to instruct ASEAN foreign ministers to continue discussions on how ASEAN can maintain a constructive and principles-based engagement with Myanmar, while remaining faithful to the principles of the Five-Point Consensus.

Emphasising that Myanmar remains an integral part of the ASEAN family, the foreign ministers were briefed by Minister U Tin Maung Swe on developments in Myanmar.

During the meeting, ASEAN foreign ministers exchanged views on the organisation’s engagement with Myanmar and discussed possible concrete measures to promote an end to the violence, constructive dialogue among all parties involved, and the strengthening of humanitarian assistance, in accordance with the Five-Point Consensus.