Summary of Weekly Press Briefing

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

On 7 August 2025 at 16:00 hrs.

MFA Press Conference Room and MFA FB LIVE / Tik Tok LIVE

1. General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting
   
   

• On 7 August 2025, General Nattaphon Narkphanit, Deputy Minister of Defence and Acting Minister of Defence, led the Thai delegation to the Extraordinary Session of the Thailand–Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysia, the United States, and China participated as observers.
  
  
• Following the meeting, General Nattaphon delivered a press briefing in which he highlighted the following key outcomes: (1) Prior to the start of the GBC Meeting, the Heads of Delegation of Thailand and Cambodia, in their capacity as GBC Co-Chairs, paid a joint courtesy call on the Prime Minister Anwar of Malaysia. The Malaysian Prime Minister welcomed the ceasefire and the positive progress made in the GBC dialogue, and reaffirmed the strong support of Malaysia and ASEAN Member States for resolving the border issue through existing bilateral mechanisms, (2) Both sides reaffirmed their full commitment to the ceasefire and agreed to refrain from any further reinforcement, provocative actions, or the dissemination of disinformation. The two sides also reiterated the importance of respecting international humanitarian law, including through the dignified repatriation of the remains of soldiers, (3) It was agreed to establish an Interim Observer Team (IOT), led by the Malaysian Defence Attaché, and composed of Defence Attachés from ASEAN embassies in Thailand and Cambodia. The IOT will conduct regular observation activities in each respective side of the border without crossing the border, and (4) Both sides reaffirmed their intention to continue using the existing bilateral mechanisms, and agreed to convene a meeting of the Regional Border Committee (RBC) within two weeks, and the next GBC session within one month.
  
  
• Today, 18.00-20.00 hrs., the Foreign Minister will chair an online meeting with Thai Ambassadors and Consuls-General, from our Embassies, Permanent Missions and Consulates-General around the world, to provide the latest developments on the Thailand–Cambodia border situation and the outcomes of the GBC Meeting. This is part of the Ministry’s effort to ensure that our diplomatic missions are well-informed and able to effectively engage with foreign governments, international organizations, media and other partners.
  
  
• The Ministry appreciated many Thai communities abroad who have gathered to show their support for the government and military.
  
  

2. Seminar on “Safeguarding Digital Societies: Preventing Scam, Combatting Cybercrime” under the ESIWA+ project
   
   

• On 8 August 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and the Delegation of the European Union to Thailand, will jointly organize a seminar entitled “Safeguarding Digital Societies: Preventing Scam, Combatting Cybercrime”.
  
  
• The objective of this seminar is to exchange policy insights and case studies from both Thai and European public and private sectors on how to tackle online scams, which is currently a top priority of the Thai government.
  
  
• This seminar will be an important opportunity to strengthen Thailand–EU cooperation in cybersecurity and combating online scams, which have had widespread impacts on the public and caused significant economic damage globally.
  
  
• The seminar also reflects Thailand’s continued efforts to tackle online scams in all dimensions. Thailand has been actively and seriously implementing its policies and actions, and is ready to expand cooperation with all stakeholders, both regional and international.
  
  
• The seminar is a cooperation under the ESIWA+ project, which is part of the European Union’s Indo-Pacific Strategy for Cooperation, providing opportunities for Thailand to enhance the capacity of its agencies in the security sector, as well as to exchange knowledge, experience, and best practices with the EU in four key areas: maritime security, cybersecurity, crisis management, and counter-terrorism and the prevention of violent extremism.
  
  
• H.E.Mr. Russ Jalichandra, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, will preside over the opening ceremony of the seminar.
  
  

3. The 10th Mekong–Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kunming, People’s Republic of China, during 13–15 August 2025
   
   

• The Minister of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to attend the 10th Mekong–Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Anning City, Yunnan Province, People’s Republic of China, from 13 to 15 August 2025, in which the Minister will co-chair the session with H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
  
  
• The main theme of the meeting is “Golden Decade: Staying Committed to Building a Better Community Through Solidarity,” reflecting the upcoming 10th anniversary of MLC and the transition into its second decade next year. The meeting will review the progress of cooperation under the MLC framework to date, and discuss ways to further strengthen collaboration in a more effective and beneficial manner for the people in the Mekong River Basin and China.
  
  
• Thailand will promote cooperation in addressing urgent shared challenges in the subregion, such as combating transnational crimes and water resource management. Thailand will also reaffirm its readiness to host the 5th MLC Leaders’ Meeting at the end of this year.
  
  
• The MLC has six member countries - Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Thailand currently serves as co-chair of the MLC framework alongside China for the 2024–2025 term. 
  
  
• Thailand initiated the MLC in 2012, and it was officially established with support from China in 2016. It aims to promote connectivity and sustainable development in the Mekong subregion and to reduce development disparities among participating countries. The MLC is the first water cooperation framework in which all Mekong countries, including both upstream and downstream nations, fully participate.

Watch the full session at: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16zRonpxyM/

****************