On 12 - 13 March 2019, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, paid a working visit to Indonesia, as representative of the Royal Thai Government and Chair of ASEAN. The purpose of the visit was to further enhance bilateral ties between Thailand and Indonesia as strategic partners and to promote closer coordination between the two countries in order to further promote ASEAN’s role in providing assistance to Myanmar in Rakhine State and to promote ASEAN cooperation on the Indo-Pacific concept.

During the visit, the Foreign Minister paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, and held a discussion with H.E. Ms. Retno L.P. Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the cordial relations between Thailand and Indonesia and the increasing bilateral trade and investment. The two sides agreed to jointly organise events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Thailand - Indonesia diplomatic relations in 2020. The Thai side also updated the Indonesian side on the European Union’s decision to lift the yellow card for Thailand in recognition of the substantive progress Thailand has made in tackling Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and reaffirmed Thailand’s readiness to cooperate with Indonesia in fishery industry.

On ASEAN, Indonesia reaffirmed its full support for Thailand’s Chairmanship of ASEAN this year. The two sides attached great importance on the close cooperation between Thailand and Indonesia to further promote ASEAN resilience and sustainability. Both sides noted with satisfaction the visit of the Preliminary Needs Assessment Team to Rakhine State and encouraged the visit by the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Team in the future. In addition, Indonesia commended Thailand’s leadership in coordinating ASEAN’s position on Indo-Pacific. The two sides also exchanged views on the recent developments in the South China Sea and on the Korean Peninsula.

On this occasion, the Foreign Minister also held a discussion with Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN, on ways to further strengthen ASEAN and to promote the role and efficiency of the ASEAN Secretariat. The two sides also exchanged views on the challenges facing the region and other issues, including the development in Rakhine State, the Indo-Pacific concept, South China Sea, the progress made regarding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO).