On 26 September 2025, the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra and the Department of International Economic Affairs jointly organized the Thailand-Australia Track 1.5 Dialogue on strengthening cooperation in the Mekong sub-region in Bangkok. H.E. Ms. Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia, presided over the seminar, and Mrs. Prangtip Kanchanahattakij, Acting Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, delivered the closing remarks.

The seminar aimed to provide a platform for experts from related sectors in Thailand, Australia, and international organizations, as well as academia, to exchange views and insights, and to propose ways in which Thailand and Australia could enhance cooperation in addressing two pressing challenges in the subregion, namely transnational crime and transboundary environmental issues, which include water resources management and air pollution. The Mekong Institute (MI) was designated as the coordinator of the event.

Both the Ambassador and the Acting Director-General highlighted Australia’s long-standing role as an important partner of the Mekong sub-region, recognizing its expertise, capabilities, and commitment to working with Thailand in addressing these challenges and advancing sustainable development in the sub-region, which will benefit both the peoples of the Mekong countries and Australia. The significant role of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) was also emphasized as a central mechanism and connector for cooperation frameworks in the subregion, as well as for its potential as a link to Australia’s Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP) initiative.