Summary of the Weekly Press Briefing

By Director-General of the Department of Information and MFA Spokesperson

on 9 October 2026 at 14:00 hrs. at MFA Press Conference Room

1. The official visit of the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste

1.1 Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão of Timor-Leste arrived in Thailand on 4 October and attended various private sector engagements, before undertaking an Official Visit on 9 October. Key programs for the Official Visit include: (1) an official welcoming ceremony; (2) bilateral discussions between the two Prime Ministers; (3) a joint press conference; and (4) an official luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister at Government House. In the evening, the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste has been granted an audience with Their Majesties the King and Queen. The Prime Minister of Timor-Leste will conclude his visit and depart Thailand on 10 October 2026.

1.2 Outcomes of the visit

• The visit provided an important opportunity to strengthen relations between Thailand and Timor-Leste in all dimensions, including in the areas of security, economic cooperation, and development cooperation. It was also an opportunity for the private sectors of both countries to engage in business matching, expand trade activities, and promote more investments.
• Both sides agreed to advance cooperation through the following key areas: 
  (1) encouraging regular high-level visits; (2) organizing activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027; (3) following up on the outcomes of the first meeting of the Bilateral Consultations mechanism in Timor-Leste; (4) expanding military cooperation, based on Thailand's significant role in peacekeeping and peacebuilding in Timor-Leste from 1999 to 2002; and (5) increasing cooperation in combating online scams and other transnational crimes, both at the bilateral level and within the ASEAN framework.
• On economic cooperation, both sides agreed to promote trade and investment, particularly in food security and trade in rice, as well as the potential for investment in Timor-Leste in various sectors such as agriculture and the processed food industry, energy, infrastructure, and tourism and services. Both sides will also expedite the completion of the Air Services Agreement to pave the way for the commencement of direct flights between Bangkok and Dili as soon as possible.
• On development cooperation, both sides will work to finalize a three-year development cooperation plan (2026–2028) as soon as possible, focusing on sustainable agriculture, community development, public health, human resource development, and ASEAN capacity building, including support for Timor-Leste’s future ASEAN chairmanship.
• Thailand and Timor-Leste have shared close relations since Thailand participated in the peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste in 1999. Thailand was also among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste.
  

2. Official visits of foreign leaders to Thailand and side events during the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026

2.1 Thailand will host the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026 from 12 to 18 October 2026. This is the second time that Thailand has been honored to host the meetings, making it one of only three countries in the world to have hosted it twice. The meeting will be attended by more than 15,000 participants from over 190 countries, with more than 1,000 press members covering the event.

2.2 During the meetings, there will be official and other important visits to Thailand by foreign leaders, as follows:

(1) H.E. Mr. Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation and his wife will pay an Official Visit to Thailand as Guests of the Government, together with a delegation of business leaders. This marks the first official visit to Thailand by a Swiss president in 22 years and coincides with the 95th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Switzerland in 2026. Switzerland is a key partner for Thailand, being the second-largest trading partner in Europe and the top partner within the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). More than 150 Swiss companies have invested in the Thailand, while, the two countries maintain close people-to-people relations, with approximately 36,000 Thai nationals residing in Switzerland.

(2) H.E. Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore, will visit Thailand as Guest of the Government. The Prime Minister will welcome President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at Government House. He will also be granted an audience with Their Majesties the King and Queen at the Amporn Sathan Residential Hall. Singapore is a key strategic partner for Thailand across various dimensions, including sustainable green partnerships, food security, and economic connectivity, particularly in the digital economy, technology, and innovation. Singapore is one of Thailand's most important economic partners and is currently Thailand’s largest investor in the country.

3. Affiliated programs organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organize key parallel activities in conjunction with the Meetings, including:

(1) A Round-Table Meeting on “Strengthening ASEAN Resilience and the Role of Emerging Development Partners for a More Secure and Sustainable Future” The meeting will be held on 9 October 2026 at Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok. Participants include agencies responsible for development cooperation from Thailand, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan. The meeting will focus on approaches to strengthening ASEAN resilience in addressing challenges through trilateral cooperation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), based on a people-centred approach and the principle of leaving no one behind.

(2) A Dinner Talk on “Rethinking Growth: Thailand’s Pathways to a More Balanced and Sustainable Future” The event will be held on 13 October 2026 at the Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit. It will present Thailand's approaches to promoting balanced and sustainable economic growth, with a focus on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model. 

(3) A High-level panel discussion on “Food Systems Transformation and Economic Growth – Powering Economic and Social Development through the Energy Transition” The panel discussion will be held on 14 October 2026 at InterContinental Hotel Bangkok. The discuss will focus on energy transition to promote food security, enhance the resilience of agricultural and food systems, reduce imports of fossil fuels, and support sustainable growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

(4) A Panel Discussion on “Promoting Quality Infrastructure in Asia Pacific” The panel discussion will be held on 15 October 2026 at the Conrad Hotel Bangkok. The panel will exchange views on the challenges of developing quality infrastructure projects in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as approaches to attracting sustainable investment for infrastructure projects.

Hosting the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026 is an important opportunity to showcase Thailand’s economic and financial potential to global investors, attract investment, particularly in future technologies, and advance the Bangkok Blueprint strategy in digital finance and the environment presented by Thailand to the Meetings, as well as other important economic agendas. In addition, the Meetings will provide an opportunity to showcase Thai culture, food, and the way of life, and also an important opportunity to prepare Thailand for its ASEAN chairmanship in 2028.

Watch a full briefing at: https://fb.watch/v/43o30csVK/