On 28 September 2013, Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, met with Foreign Ministers from the Middle East and Africa on the sidelines of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Meeting Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, Mr. Surapong updated his counterpart on pending bilateral issues between Thailand and Bahrain, including the signing of the MoU on cooperation in agriculture at the next high-level visit, the conclusion of an MoU on educational cooperation, and the Thai private sector’s interest in participating in affordable housing projects in Bahrain. He expressed his appreciation for Bahrain’s support in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and congratulated Bahrain on its assumption of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Chairmanship. He also informed Shaikh Khalifa that ASEAN had accepted Bahrain’s proposal to host the 3rd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Meeting in November 2013.

At his meeting with Mr. Oryem Henry Okello, Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of Prime Minister Yingluck’s recent official visit to Uganda. He informed Mr. Okello that Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA) was working on a country profile for Uganda in order to assess the country’s needs and provide development cooperation. Mr. Surapong said that he looked forward to the Ugandan President’s participation at the Thai-Africa Initiative’s High-level Dialogue, to be held in Thailand during 3 – 4 February 2014.  He also thanked Uganda for supporting Thailand’s candidatures to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and Human Rights Council (HRC).

Mr. Surapong also met with Mr. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia. He reiterated Prime Minister Yingluck’s invitation for the Liberian President to attend the Bangkok Dialogue on Rule of Law, Justice, and Security, to be held in Thailand on 15 November 2013, and invited Liberia’s participation at the Thai-Africa Initiative’s High-level Dialogue, to be held in Thailand next February. Mr. Surapong also sought Liberia’s support for Thailand’s candidatures to the UNSC and the HRC.