Summary of Weekly Press Briefing

by DG of Department of Information and MFA Spokesperson

14 March 2024 at 11.00 hours at MFA Press Conference Room and MFA FB Live

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1. Prime Minister’s official visit to France and Germany

• The Prime Minister, accompanied by the Deputy Foreign Minister, paid an official visit to France during 7-12 March 2024, and to Germany during 13-14 March 2024, which were the first two official visits to Europe by the Prime Minster.
• In the morning of 7 March 2024, the Prime Minister stopped over in Berlin to attend ITB Berlin 2024, to present Thailand’s vision and policy on the tourism industry. Germany is a high potential market for tourism, with 244,419 tourists visiting Thailand between 1 Jan.-12 March 2024, second only to Russia in the European segment.
• Outcome of the official visit to France
  • Thailand sought France’s support for Thai athletes attending the Paris Summer Olympics during July - August this year, and also the establishment of a Thai House to showcase Thai boxing, fashion and food during the event. The Thai side asked for France’s support to include Thailand in the Schengen visa exemption scheme.
  • The Prime Minister invited the President to pay an official visit to Thailand in 2025 on the occasion of the 340^th anniversary of the first contact between Siam and France, and the 170^th anniversary of Thailand - France diplomatic relations in 2026.
  • Both leaders chaired a joint press conference stating the commitment to enhance relations in all dimensions towards a closer partnership, including close and longstanding bilateral relations; shared values in promoting democracy, human rights, and other international values; maintaining global peace, stability, and security; as well as a more sustainable and resilient economy taking into account the digital and green transition.
  • The Prime Minister also met with almost 20 executives from leading French business to promote investment in Thailand.
• Outcome of the official visit to Germany
  • Both leaders agreed to the Roadmap to elevate relations to a strategic partnership.
  • Both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation based on mutual interests, especially on the exchanges of high-level visits, cooperation on clean energy and green transition, the EV and battery industries, sustainable agriculture, development of infrastructure and connectivity through Thailand’s Landbridge project, Thai - EU FTA negotiations and Schengen visa exemption for ordinary Thai passport holders, as well as cooperation on regional and global issues, including climate change and global security.
  • The Prime Minister also met with leading German companies to attract more German investments to Thailand, especially in the automotive and semiconductor sectors.
    
    

2. Upcoming missions by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

     2.1 Meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and United States Secretary of Commerce and IPEF Ministerial Meeting

• Gina M. Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, is visiting Thailand during 12-15 March 2024, as a result of the official visit to Washington, D.C. by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in February 2024, during which His Excellency met with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce on 12 February.
• The Secretary of Commerce arrived in Thailand on 12 March, together with the President’s Export Council (PEC), and had a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, as well as chaired a plenary meeting between the PEC and the Thai side on 13 March.
• The Deputy Prime Minister will have a bilateral meeting with the Secretary of Commerce and the PEC later this afternoon to discuss economic policies and ways to enhance economic cooperation, alongside promoting investment. In addition, the Secretary of Commerce and the delegation will pay a courtesy call on and have a discussion with the Prime Minister and related Ministers afterwards.
• After their bilateral meeting today, both ministers will co-chair the IPEF Ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whereas the other 12 IPEF member countries will attend virtually. The meeting aims to promote cooperation under IPEF and discuss ways forward. Hosting the IPEF Ministerial Meeting reflects Thailand’s proactive role in enhancing regional economic development and competitiveness.
• This official visit will enhance bilateral relations and economic partnership, especially in Thailand’s targeted industries, such as the automotive industry, clean energy industry, and the digital economy.

     2.2 Deputy Foreign Minster visits Chiang Rai province and Pha Yao province

• The Deputy Foreign Minister will visit Chiang Rai province on 18 March 2024 to discuss with the local authorities and private sector in the area on how to promote border trade, connectivity, tourism, and international cooperation for related transborder management.
• On 19 March 2024, the Deputy Foreign Minister will travel to Pha Yao province to attend the cabinet meeting and visit the mobile passport and consular service booth provided to the locals by the Department of Consular Affairs.
  
  

3. Assistance to Thai nationals arrested and repatriated from Cambodia

• On 12 March 2024, the Cambodian officials arrested 54 Thais, who worked illegally in Preah Sihanouk province, and repatriated them back via land border to Trat Province. The Ministry assigned a representative to observe the repatriation process alongside the local authorities.
• All Thai nationals underwent the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) which screens victims of human trafficking from those involved in transnational crime.
• Recently, there were several cases similar to this incident in the neighbouring countries of Thailand, with the Thai nationals involved both voluntarily and involuntarily. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to reiterate that transnational organized crimes are illegal in both Thailand and the neighbouring countries with severe punishment. Thus, the Ministry would like to encourage all Thai citizens who are considering working abroad to exercise utmost caution to avoid being victims of such organized crime.

Other matters:

1. Thailand’s policy on humanitarian assistance for Myanmar

• The current Thai government has initiated cooperation with Myanmar to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people along the border in an inclusive manner, without discrimination. This initiative is welcomed by ASEAN and is consistent with ASEAN’s 5 Point Consensus reflected in the Press Statement by the Chair of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat held on 29 January 2024 in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.
• The humanitarian undertaking will be operated by the Thai and Myanmar Red Cross with facilitation and observation by the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) to ensure transparency, credibility and inclusivity of delivery.  
• The first batch of assistance is expected to be delivered within this month and may expand to other areas in the future.
• Thailand supports dialogue among all parties concerned inside Myanmar. In facilitating humanitarian assistance, Thailand has consulted not only the government of Myanmar but also with many parties, especially those in the areas that the delivery of assistance would be distributed.

2. The unrest in Haiti

• Some countries have evacuated their personnel from the area. For Thailand, the Ministry has already instructed the Royal Thai Embassy in Mexico, accredited to Haiti, to contact the Haiti government to seek support in taking care of Thai citizens in the area, if any. As of now, according to the Embassy’s database, there is no Thai citizen or Thai company in Haiti. The Royal Thai Embassy has also posted the announcement of its emergency number for Thais who may require it.

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