Summary of the Weekly Press Briefing

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

on 24 August 2026 at 15:00 hrs.

Department of Information Meeting Room, MFA

1. Outcomes of the participation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Official Visit of the Prime Minister to the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand (17 - 22 August 2026)

• On 17 - 22 August 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the Official Visit of H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister, to Australia and New Zealand, at the invitation of the Australian Prime Minister and the New Zealand Prime Minister.
• The purpose of the visit is to enhance and strengthen the strategic partnership with both countries in a multi-dimensional manner. This visit marked the Prime Minister’s first visit to both countries since assuming office, as well as the first visit by a Thai Prime Minister to Australia in 14 years, while the visit to New Zealand marked the first by a Thai Prime Minister in 13 years.
  
  
• The visit to Australia on 18 - 19 August in Sydney and Canberra:
  • The Prime Minister had a bilateral meeting with The Honorable Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, during which the two Prime Ministers reaffirmed commitment to strengthening cooperation in all dimensions and expanding cooperation within ASEAN and the Mekong subregion frameworks, to enhance the security of the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Both sides welcomed close and longstanding relations, which will mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, and discussed ways to advance economic cooperation, trade and investment, energy, science, research and innovation, security and defence, including cooperation on combating transnational crime, cultural and people-to-people relations. Both sides also exchanged views on key regional developments.
  • The two Prime Ministers signed 2 joint statements: (1) joint statement on transnational crime, and (2) joint statement on deepening economic engagement
  • At the joint press conference, the two Prime Ministers reaffirmed commitment to strengthening cooperation across all dimensions, including advancing the Thailand – Australia Strategic Partnership towards tangible outcomes.
  • The Deputy Prime Minister also discussed with Senator The Honorable Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, to further expand cooperation, especially in promoting exchanges of high-level visits and strengthening regional and global security, as well as exchanged views on key regional developments of mutual interest.
  • On other important programmes, the Prime Minister held meetings with various high-level representatives from the Australian side, namely:

               (1) The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia;

               (2) The Governor of New South Wales;

               (3) Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia and Leader of the Opposition; and,

• The Prime Minister also gave a speech on Thailand’s vision and perspectives on the region and met with executives of the Lowy Institute, which is a renowned Australian think tank;
• During the visit, the Prime Minister met with representatives of the Australian private sector, reaffirming Thailand’s commitment to further promote a strong economic environment conducive to trade and investment, particularly in the areas of agriculture, renewable energy, digital and creative industries, advanced manufacturing and education.
• The Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of the Letter of Intent between the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to further scientific cooperation, which aims to strengthen joint research activities in the fields of science and innovation, promote the exchange of information and knowledge.
  
  
• The visit to New Zealand on 20 - 22 August in Auckland:
  • The Prime Minister had a meeting with The Right Honorable Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand. Both sides welcomed the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year and agreed to strengthen political and security cooperation, particularly in combating transnational crime, as well as to advance shared economic interests under the Thailand – New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (TNZCEP), which aims to triple bilateral trade by 2045. They also agreed to enhance people-to-people connectivity through the upcoming resumption of direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland, as well as to strengthen education cooperation, as well as to foster cooperation within the ASEAN – New Zealand framework alongside development cooperation in the Mekong subregion.
  • Following the meeting, the Prime Minister signed the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership between Thailand and New Zealand, elevating bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, with the Joint Action Plan for 2026 – 2030 serving as a roadmap for advancing cooperation towards tangible outcomes across four key pillars – namely, political and security cooperation; economic, trade and innovation cooperation; culture and people-to-people connectivity; and regional and multilateral cooperation).
  • He also witnessed the signing ceremony of 3 other key outcome documents:

                (1) Arrangement on Cultural Cooperation between Thailand and New Zealand;

                (2) Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Civil Service Commission of Thailand and Education New Zealand; and,

                (3) Memorandum of Arrangement between Royal Thai Police and New Zealand Police on partnership and reciprocal exchange of information.

• In addition, the Prime Minister also met representatives of New Zealand business sector to promote investment opportunities and cooperation, including research and development. He also witnessed the signing of private-sector agreements between Chata Instruments Company Limited and Aeroqual Limited, and between Thailand’s Top Flying Limited and New Zealand’s NZAero.
• While in Australia and New Zealand, Prime Minister Anutin, together with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, also had a visit with the Thai communities in both countries.
  
  
  2. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to Pay an Official Visit to Nigeria and Ethiopia (25 - 29 August 2026)
• The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to pay an official visit to Nigeria and Ethiopia during 25 – 29 August 2026 to promote Thailand’s engagement with Africa across all dimensions under the Thailand – Africa Initiative (TAI). The visit aims to advance the economic diplomacy agenda by enhancing trade and investment cooperation with key emerging markets in Africa, particularly Nigeria and Ethiopia.
• In Nigeria, the Deputy Prime Minister is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on the Vice President of Nigeria and meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja. He will also lead a Thai business delegation to attend the Thailand – Nigeria Business Forum in Lagos.
• In Ethiopia, the Deputy Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia as well as a high-level representative of the African Union Commission. He will also host a reception to relaunch the Thailand – Africa Initiative (TAI) policy to members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the public and private sectors, and international organizations based in Ethiopia. He will also lead a Thai business delegation to attend the “Thailand – Ethiopia: Building Business Bridges” event in Addis Ababa, which aims to foster networking and strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors of the two countries. Ethiopia is, notably, an important manufacturing and logistical hub in East Africa.
• This official visit to Nigeria and Ethiopia marks the inaugural official visit of the Deputy Prime Minister to Africa, reflecting Thailand’s commitment to advancing strategic initiatives in elevating bilateral relations with partners in Africa.

Watch the full session at: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DndU5Gxd8/