Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to pay an official visit to the Republic of the Philippines at the invitation of Mr. Albert F. del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines during 20 - 21 June 2013.

During his first official visit to the Philippines, DPM/FM Surapong will co-chair the 5th Meeting of Joint Commission for Bilateral Commission (JCBC) with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, call on Mr. Benigno S. Aquino III, President of the Philippines, and Mr. Jejomar C. Binay, Vice President of the Philippines, and attend a dinner hosted by the Vice President of the Philippines in his honour.

Thailand and the Philippines established the JCBC in 1994 as a mechanism to enhance relations and bilateral cooperation in all dimensions. Thailand hosted the 4th JCBC Meeting in March 2007.  The 5th JCBC Meeting places high priority on cooperation in trade, investment, education, technical cooperation, energy, defense and combating transnational crimes as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.     

In addition, DPM/FM Surapong and Secretary del Rosario will witness the signing of three important documents: (1) the Convention between the Philippines and Thailand for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (2) the Joint Statement for the Establishment of an Energy Forum, and (3) the Memorandum of Understanding on the Cooperation between Thailand – the Philippines and the Philippines - Thailand Business Councils. The 1st Meeting between the Philippines-Thailand Business Council and the Thailand-Philippines Business Council will also be convened on 20 June 2013.

Thailand and the Philippines share close and cordial relations, strengthened by frequent exchanges of high level visits. The President of the Philippines visited Thailand on 26 - 27 May 2011, only seven months after, Prime Minister Yingluck’s visit to the Philippines on 19 January 2012.