Senator the Honourable Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia paid an official visit to Thailand on 10 January 2019.  During this visit, Minister Payne paid courtesy call on H.E. Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, and co-signed 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 also had a fruitful discussion with H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, on a range of bilateral and regional issues.  Both Ministers agreed that the close relations between Thailand and Australia, entering the 67^th years of diplomatic relations, stands as the basis for further expanding the relations in all dimensions. The two Ministers exchanged views on key regional issues, including Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship and the cooperation in the Indo - Pacific region.  Australia reaffirmed its intention to become a Development Partner in ACMECS.

          This was 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.