On 16 July 2018, H.E. Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, met with the European Union Member States' Ambassadors from 21 countries led by H.E. Mr. Pirkka Tapiola, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Thailand.

 

Foremost, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed her gratitude to the EU Member States for the assistance provided to the young football team and coach who were trapped inside Tham Luang cave, Chiang Rai Province. The EU Ambassadors were informed of the various national reforms undertaken in Thailand including flagship initiatives such as the 20-year National Strategy, Thailand 4.0, and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), which were a driving force for the Thai economy. As a result, the Thai economy grew from 0.9 percent in 2014 to 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2018. She stressed that Thailand was moving towards a return to a strong democracy and social harmony, and the Royal Thai Government was committed to the Roadmap towards the general elections. Latest developments in the promotion and protection of human rights in Thailand were also mentioned. The Ambassador of the European Union to Thailand welcomed the economic and political developments in Thailand and expressed the hope that the general elections would be held in accordance with the Roadmap. He congratulated Thailand on the reform of the management of foreign workers.

 

Both sides also discussed bilateral relations focusing on the way forward for Thai – EU relations as well as Thai – EU Member States relations and how to increase the dynamism of cooperation and strategic partnership in all areas. Such an example was the visit to the United Kingdom and France by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, in June 2018. The Permanent Secretary informed the Ambassadors that, during the visit to Europe, the Prime Minister emphasized that Thailand wanted to diversify and expand its economic partnership to more European countries and is ready to provide a level playing field for European investors. The two sides welcomed the return towards exploring the resumption of negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Thailand and the EU.

 

During the meeting, both sides also exchanged views on regional cooperation. The Austrian Ambassador to Thailand informed the meeting of Austria’s priorities in holding the EU Presidency from July-December 2018. Austria also attached importance to enhancing cooperation in connectivity which Thailand has a strategic role to play. The Thai side took the opportunity to inform about Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2019, emphasizing the strengthening of a people-centered ASEAN Community while leaving no one behind. The Thai side also highlighted the importance of Sustainable Development and discussed areas where Europe and Thailand can further cooperate during Thailand’s Chairmanship.

 

In addition, the Thai side updated the European Ambassadors on Thailand’s hosting of the ACMECS Summit, where the leaders endorsed Thailand’s initiatives of the 5-year ACMECS Master Plan (2019-2023) and the establishment of the ACMECS Fund, which the EU and Member States were invited to join as Partners for Development. Both sides further exchanged views on partnership for development at regional and global levels with emphasis on adherence to multilateralism and rules-based order, as well as on ways to foster connectivity under the ASEM framework.