Summary of Weekly Press Briefing

By the Deputy Director-General of Department of Information

On 16 May 2025 at 11.00 hrs. at Press Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

and MFA FB/TikTok Live

1. The Prime Minister’s Official Visit to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (15-16 May 2025)

• H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, is currently on her first official visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Viet Nam. The delegation arrived in Hanoi on 15 May 2025 and will return to Thailand on 16 May 2025.
• This visit is expected to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, especially through the 4th Thailand-Viet Nam Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR), co-chaired by both Prime Ministers. This mechanism comprehensively reviews progress and charts the future direction of our multi-faceted bilateral cooperation.
• The two Prime Ministers will also co-preside over the opening of the Thailand - Viet Nam Business Forum, where they will meet with business sectors from both countries to identify further trade and investment opportunities and explore ways to deepen economic ties.
• In 2024, Vietnam was Thailand’s second largest trading partner in ASEAN after Malaysia, while Thailand was Vietnam’s first largest trading partner in ASEAN.
• This visit is also an opportunity to discuss regional issues where Viet Nam and Thailand both play an important role in maintaining regional security and driving economic prosperity.

2. The President of the Republic of Indonesia’s Official Visit to Thailand (19 May 2025)

• On 19 May 2025, H.E. Mr. Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia, will pay his first official visit to Thailand. The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• During the visit, President Subianto will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Paetongtarn to discuss multiple areas of cooperation, including how to strengthen cooperation within ASEAN against the backdrop of global economic and political uncertainties.
• On this occasion, both leaders will also announce the elevation of Thailand-Indonesia relations to a Strategic Partnership.

3. The participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the 25th Thai Festival in Tokyo

• On 10 May 2025, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, presided over the opening ceremony of the 25th Thai Festival in Tokyo, Japan, during 10 - 11 May 2025 under the theme “Creative Thailand.” The festival aimed to promote a modern, dynamic and creative image of Thailand, as well as to expand business opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs in the Japanese market and promote Thailand’s creative industries onto the global stage, in alignment with the government’s National Soft Power Strategy.
• The Thai Festival in Tokyo is the largest Thai Festival in the world. It is also Tokyo’s most significant cultural exchange event attracting over 300,000 visitors annually. In 2025, the Festival was co-organised by the Royal Thai Embassy and Team Thailand Offices in Tokyo in collaboration with various Thai government agencies and private organizations as well as Japanese partners, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Japanese private sector.
• The Festival featured Thailand’s creative industries, exhibitions, tourist activities and destinations, and services as well as Thai food, fruits and product vendors. Cultural performances, including Muaythai and traditional Thai dance, were featured alongside modern entertainment, with concerts and fan meetings showcasing some of Thailand’s leading artists. It also laid the groundwork for celebrations on the occasion of the Thailand-Japan 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in

4. Thailand Development Forum for Africa (11 - 16 May 2025)

• From 11 to 16 May 2025, the Ministry by the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) in collaboration with the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, is hosting the Thailand Development Forum for Africa.
• In attendance are senior officials, including Permanent Secretaries and heads of development cooperation agencies or their representatives from 15 African countries: Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Somalia and Uganda.
• This Forum is part of Thailand’s development cooperation strategy under the Thai - Africa Initiative. It highlights Thailand’s role as a proactive development partner to Africa by offering support in a way that responds to the needs of African countries. These efforts are guided by the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and the Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) Model. Through the Forum, Thailand aims to support Africa’s achievement of the SDGs and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
• Participants also took part in field visits to observe Thailand’s development practices in various areas such as Universal Health Coverage and Health Promotion, Community-Based Tourism and Agricultural Innovation and Technology. They also received briefings on investment cooperation with Africa from both public and private sector perspectives, with speakers from the Department of International Trade Promotion and the Federation of Thai Industries. The programme concluded with a workshop to explore future development cooperation between Thailand and African countries.
• In addition, the delegation paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Russ Jalichandra, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs today.

5. Seminar Series on the Occasion of the 150^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• The year 2025 marks the 150^th anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry has organised a number of activities throughout the year.
• On 19 May 2025, the Ministry will host a launch of an exhibition to celebrate this occasion, featuring historical photographs, original treaties, and rare diplomatic artifacts. There will also be a special seminar programme in collaboration with “8-Minute History on Stage” by Dr. Wit Sittivaekin from 10 - 16.00 hours at Vithes Samosorn. Interested individuals are invited to register to join via the Ministry’s public relations channels. This event will be conducted in Thai.
• From 20 May to 6 June 2025, the Ministry will organise a Seminar Series, consisting of various discussion topics on Thai diplomacy. Each Seminar will be organised by each relevant Department of the Ministry and will be open for the general public to register and attend. Please see more information, including the registration, of each Seminar in the Series on the MFA’s Facebook page.
• From 10 June 2025 until the end of the year, the general public can visit the abovementioned Exhibition on the second floor of the Department of Consular Affairs, Chaeng Watthana Road.

Watch the full session at: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18ez15uoHR/?mibextid=wwXIfr