On 21 August 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, joined H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister, in meeting with H.E. the Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, during the official visit to New Zealand in Auckland.

The Deputy Prime Minister participated in the plenary meeting, where both sides welcomed the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year and the elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, with the draft Joint Action Plan 2026 - 2030 serving as a framework for advancing tangible cooperation across four key pillars: (1) political and security; (2) economic, trade and innovation; (3) culture and people-to-people connectivity; and (4) regional and multilateral cooperation.

Both sides also agreed to strengthen political and security cooperation, particularly by promoting political engagement and combating transnational crime, as well as advancing shared economic interests under the Thailand - New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (TNZCEP), which aims to triple bilateral trade by 2045. They also agreed to promote people-to-people connectivity through the resumption of direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland, strengthen cooperation in education, as well as foster cooperation within the ASEAN - New Zealand framework alongside development cooperation in the Mekong subregion.

Following the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister joined the joined press conference of the two Prime Ministers and the signing ceremony of four key outcome documents of the visit: (1) the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership between the Kingdom of Thailand and New Zealand; (2) the Arrangement on Cultural Cooperation between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of New Zealand; (3) the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Civil Service Commission of the Kingdom of Thailand and Education New Zealand, New Zealand; and, (4) the Memorandum of Arrangement Between the Royal Thai Police and the New Zealand Police on partnership and reciprocal exchange of information. The Deputy Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of a private-sector agreement between Chata Instruments Company Limited and Aeroqual Limited, reflecting the commitment of both sides to advancing shared security and sustainability.

Lastly, the Deputy Prime Minister attended a luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister of New Zealand, in honour of the Prime Minister and the Thai delegation, with representatives from both the public and private sectors of Thailand and New Zealand also in attendance.