On 24 August 2018, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, presided over a regional meeting of twenty-four Thai Ambassadors and Consuls-General to European and Central Asian countries at Sheraton Stockholm Hotel, Sweden. This inaugural meeting kicks off a series of regional meetings, based on nine Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) strategic regional plans of action, to be held between August and October 2018 under the overarching theme of “Implementing the National Strategy with Dynamic and Synergised Foreign Policy amidst Global Political and Economic Challenges.”

          At the meeting, the Thai Foreign Minister set out foreign policy priorities emphasizing that all Thai Ambassadors and Consuls-General across the globe need to effectively implement the 20-year National Strategy and other key government policies particularly Thailand 4.0 and Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Development in each of their respective host countries. Simultaneously, opportunities and challenges of each region must be analysed to most effectively promote and protect the national interest of Thailand. Moreover, Foreign Minister highlighted the role of Thailand in the sub-regional and regional blocs such as ACMECS and ASEAN, including Thailand’s ASEAN chairmanship next year, which aims to strengthen cooperation with key partner countries in various regions. In addition, the Thai Foreign Minister underlined the importance of Public-Private-People Partnership (PPPP) as a way forward in carrying out foreign affairs to achieve inclusive diplomacy. To achieve this goal, the Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates have to strengthen collaboration with Team Thailand (an integrated mechanism of Thai agencies overseas, led by Thai Ambassador), Thai nationals and entrepreneurs in an integrated and comprehensive manner, as well as to follow up and follow through plans and projects for concrete outcomes beneficial for Thai nationals and the country.

          In light of the EU’s intention to strengthen interaction with Thailand and the Asia region at large, the Thai envoys in the European region underlined their commitment to pursue proactive foreign policy by strengthening cooperation between Thailand and the EU as well as European countries in economic and security aspects, particularly in science, technology and innovation (STI), foreign direct investment in EEC, and seamless connectivity.