The Director-General of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs strengthened cooperation between Thailand and Mexico for the post-COVID-19 economic recovery, including new areas relating to BCG economy model, technical and development cooperation as well as bilateral trade promotion in the 4th Meeting of Political Consultations between Thailand and Mexico

On 12 March 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand virtually hosted the 4th Meeting of Political Consultations between Thailand and Mexico. Mr. Witchu Vejjajiva, Director-General of Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, and Ambassador Claudia Franco Hijuelos, Director-General for Asia Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, led the Thai and Mexican delegations respectively. H.E. Mr. Paisan Rupanichkij, Ambassador of Thailand to Mexico, and H.E. Mr. Bernado Cordova Tello, Ambassador of Mexico to Thailand, also participated in the Meeting.

The Meeting exchanged views on key changes in international landscape, including the COVID-19 pandemic and policy orientations of global major powers, and discussed ways to strengthen collaboration between Thailand and Mexico at bilateral and multilateral levels in response to the challenges and opportunities in the changing international environment.

The two countries agreed to enhance economic recovery cooperation, particularly in new areas relating to Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy, recently announced as Thailand’s national agenda and in which Mexico also has various strengths. Both sides also expressed determination to promote bilateral trade and minimise obstacles in agricultural products, such as rice, rubber, fresh shrimp, grape and avocado, and agreed to cooperate in organising the “Seminar on Opportunities in Doing Business in Latin America and the Caribbean,” to be hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand on 31 March 2021.

In addition, the two sides exchanged their countries’ practices in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and discussed measures for the relaxation of international travels to restore business activities, especially for the tourism sector. They also promoted cooperation and exchange of mutual support in multilateral frameworks, such as the United Nations, APEC, FEALAC and Pacific Alliance (PA). Furthermore, both sides agreed to strengthen technical and development cooperation in accordance with the draft Plan of Action of Development Cooperation Program between Thailand and Mexico (2021 - 2023). Additional activities were also planned to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, commencing in August 2020, such as film, food, and cultural festivals.

Mexico is the second largest economy, out of 33 countries in the region, and is one of the top trading partners of Thailand in the Latin American and the Caribbean region. The overall bilateral trade volume between the two countries in 2020 was 3,061.18 million US dollars, with a high potential of trade expansion for several New Normal products, such as work-from-home products, medical supplies and other healthcare products.