On 21 May 2026, Ms. Prangtip Chansomsak, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, met with Ms. Carol Holmes, Assistant Secretary of the Vietnam and Mekong Strategy Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia.

Both sides welcomed the positive momentum of Australia - Mekong cooperation and exchanged views on the direction of cooperation in the Mekong subregion. The Thai side highlighted issues of priority to the Mekong countries, including water resource and water quality management, addressing air pollution and transboundary haze, combating transnational crime, as well as issues related to sustainability and connectivity. The two sides also exchanged updates on cooperation under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), including the formulation of a new ACMECS Master Plan, while underscoring the importance of enhancing policy coordination between ACMECS and the Mekong - Australia Partnership (MAP) in order to promote Australia’s constructive role and strengthen the effectiveness of development cooperation in the Mekong subregion toward concrete outcomes.

Both sides also exchanged views on the impacts of the situation in the Middle East, and ways to enhance cooperation in energy transition as well as long-term energy security.