Mr. Apichart Chinwanno, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied General Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Mrs. Apiradi Tantraporn, Minister of Commerce, Mrs. Atchaka Sibunruang, Minister of Industry, for a working visit to the Republic of Belarus between 25 - 27 February 2016 at the invitation of General - Lieutenant Sergei Gurulev, Chairman of the State Military Industrial Committee of the Republic of Belarus. The visit aims to strengthen cooperation between Thailand and Belarus and explore ways to promote bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of trade and investment.

         During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence paid a courtesy call on Mr. Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus, on 26 February 2016. Both sides agreed to further foster bilateral relations through exchanges of visits, bilateral agreements, especially in the fields of military, defence industry, trade and investment, as well as the establishment of a Joint Commission between Thailand and Belarus. As a gateway to ASEAN, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence urged Belarusian side to invest in the Special Economic Zone in Thailand. On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence also invited President of Belarus to pay a visit to Thailand at a mutually convenient time.

         Later on, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence had a bilateral meeting with Lieutenant General Andrei Ravkov, Minister of Defence of Belarus. Both sides agreed to enhance military cooperation, starting from exchanges of visits and cooperation on joint training and education. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence also witnessed the signing ceremony of the Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on Military Technical Cooperation.

         At the same time, Minister of Commerce, together with Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also had a bilateral meeting with Mr. Vladimir Makei, Foreign Minister of Belarus, on 26 February 2016. Both sides agreed to expedite the conclusion of the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Thailand and Belarus and the establishment of Honorary Consulates of the two countries. They also agreed to hold the 1^st session of Political Consultations within this year as well as to set up a Joint Commission between Thailand and Belarus.

         The visit marks the first - ever high level visit to Belarus since the establishment of the diplomatic relations in 1992 and reflects the strengthened relationship between Thailand and Belarus.