Senator the Honourable Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, will pay an official visit to Thailand as guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand on 10 January 2019. During this visit, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on H.E. Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, and co-sign the Memorandum of Understanding on Cyber and Digital Cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of Australia with Minister of Digital Economy and Society. Minister Payne will also have a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

 

      The purpose of the visit is to further strengthen the longstanding relations between Thailand and Australia in all dimensions. This visit provides an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on key regional issues, including Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship, as well as to discuss ways forward to enhance close partnership between Thailand and Australia in the Indo - Pacific region. 

 

      This is Minister Payne’s first official visit to Thailand as Minister for Foreign Affairs following her assumption of the office in August 2018. The Minister officially visited Thailand once in August 2017 during her tenure as Minister for Defence of Australia.