On 25 June 2018, H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of  the Kingdom of Thailand paid a courtesy call on H.E. Emmanuel Macron,     the President of the French Republic at the Élysée Palace, Paris. The two leaders welcomed 162 years of close and cordial relations between Thailand and France, and agreed to strengthen strategic partnership in all areas, especially in the economic sector. 

 

The two leaders welcomed the signing of the Joint Venture Company Principles Agreement which will result in the establishment of aircraft maintenance facility at U-Tapao International Airport, the purchase agreement of the observation satellite THEOS II, as well as the signing of 11 MOUs between the public and private sectors of both sides. The two sides agreed to push forward the implementation of these MOUs, especially on the EEC projects, and support the work of the Thai and French chambers of commerce to increase trade and investment volume between the two countries. 

 

The two leaders agreed on the exchange of visits. The President of France accepted the Prime Minister's  invitation to make a bilateral visit to Thailand and  as Guest of the Chair of East Asia Summit (EAS) during Thailand's ASEAN chairmanship in 2019, while the Prime Minister of Thailand accepted the invitation to participate in the celebration of the Armistice Day, to be held on 11 November 2018, in Paris.   

 

The Prime Minister invited France to become a development partner under Thailand’s 20-year National Strategy and ACMECS Master Plan, which emphasises on seamless connectivity with Thailand at the centre, and expressed readiness to support France’s constructive role toward the regional peace and stability. 

 

Thailand and France will become development partners to achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which Thailand aims to achieve by applying the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP). Thailand will also partner with France to combat climate change to help ensure the success of the Paris Agreement.

 

The Prime Minister requested the President to look after Thai investors, especially the major companies such as Double A, Thai Union Frozen and PTT Global Chemical (PCL) with combined investments in France worth 1,100 million euro (41,800 baht) and requested for France’s support for the timely revival of the Thai-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiation which will mutually benefit the private sectors of the two countries.

 

The two leaders also agreed on the establishment of direct communication in order for the concrete implementation of the outcomes of this meeting, especially to follow up on the various investment projects.