On 7 March 2016, H.E. Mr. Apichart Chinwanno, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, hosted the 2^nd Thailand – Republic of Korea Policy Consultations at the Shangri-La Hotel in Chiangmai. The  Republic of Korea was led by H.E. Mr. Lim Sungnam, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.

         This meeting was held for the first time in six years. Both countries welcomed this opportunity to meet and exchange opinions on topics of mutual interest including cooperation on economy, trade and investment, regional developments, as well as exchanges of high level visits, particularly the upcoming visit of H.E. Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak Deputy Prime Minister to the Republic of Korea at the end of March 2016. On this occasion, H.E. Mr. Lim Sungnum congratulated Thailand for hosting the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Foreign Minister’s meeting as well as Thailand’s Chairmanship of the Group of 77 for 2016 in which Thailand is introducing the sufficiency economy philosophy as a means to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

          H.E. Mr. Chinwanno and H.E. Mr. Lim Sungnam reiterated the importance of continuing the Policy Consultations dialogue in order to maintain the momentum of a closer partnership between Thailand and Republic of Korea. The Republic of Korea proposed to host the 3^rd Policy Consultations in the Republic of Korea in 2017.