The inaugural ‘Asia Symposium on Air and Space Law’ was held at the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand. The opening remarks were delivered by the Founder Member & Co-Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law (AAIL), the honourable Professor Teresa Cheng GBM GBS SC JP, Professor Pokpong Srisanit, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, and Professor Su Jinyuan, Deputy Dean of School of Law, Wuhan University.

The Symposium brought together prominent experts from government agencies, academia, and various industries, including Professor Huang Jiefang, Secretary-General of AAIL and former Director of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau at ICAO; Mr Sarun Benjanirat, Deputy Director-General of Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT); Mr Phee Choosri, Deputy Director-General of Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA); Ms Tan Siew Huay, Director (Special Projects – International Air Law) at the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore; Mr Ekachai Phakdurong, Chief Strategy Officer of Thaicom Public Company Limited; and Dr Sitdhinai Chantranon, Senior Legal Adviser of Thai Airways. Distinguished legal scholars from six Asian jurisdictions were also invited to participate in the discussions.

The Symposium featured in-depth deliberations around four thematic panels:
1. Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
2. 80 Years of the Chicago Convention: Historical Review and Future Outlook
3. Protection of the Space Environment
4. Contemporary Issues in Aviation Law

At the closing ceremony, Dr Sorajak Kasemsuvan, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Council Member of the Asia Peace and Reconciliation Commission Council, and member of AAIL Advisory Board, offered high praise for the Symposium’s outcomes and expressed hope that this would become a regular event. Professor Huang Jiefang reaffirmed AAIL’s commitment to support this scholarly platform to foster theoretical innovation and practical advancement in international air and space law across Asia.