On 7 March 2023, H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain (for Political Affairs) paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, on the occasion of his visit to Thailand to co-chair the 3rd Mid-year Review for the 4th Thailand – Bahrain High Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

During the meeting, both sides expressed their delight at the extraordinary bond of friendship between the two countries, and discussed ways to advance bilateral cooperation in food security, trade and investment, security, as well as tourism. Both sides also agreed to strengthen their cooperation in multilateral level to enhance regional security and prosperity under the existing framework of ASEAN – Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN - GCC), Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).

During the 3rd Mid-year Review for the 4th Thailand – Bahrain High Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain meeting, co-chaired by H.E. Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain (for Political Affairs) at Shangri-La Bangkok Hotel, both sides reaffirmed the longstanding extraordinary bond of friendship between the two Kingdoms which have spanned over 40 years and the Thai side expressed its intention to enhance cooperation between the two countries as Bahrain has always been Thailand’s significant partner in the Middle East. The meeting also expressed satisfaction with the progress in the strategic areas of cooperation, namely, public health, food security, trade and investment and energy security, in particular on the successful cooperations in many areas such as the opening of the Thai Mart in Bahrain to showcase Thai products in early 2021 as well as in the fields of educational, labor and consular, and social and cultural cooperation. The meeting also took this opportunity to follow up on the status of cooperation and pending agreements to create more tangible results, such as in the field of environment, energy and halal food.

Both sides also emphasised on the promoting closer cooperation on the multilateral fora through the frameworks of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), ASEAN – Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN - GCC) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Moreover, they also exchanged views on the situation in the region.

The meeting expected that the 4th Meeting of the Joint High Commission on Bilateral Cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain could be convened in the fourth quarter of this year. The Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs also hosted a dinner in honor of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain and his delegation after the meeting.

Additionally, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain (for Political Affairs) also took the opportunity to deliver a special lecture on “Bahrain’s Foreign Policy” at Adityathon Building, Mahidol University, which was co - organized by the division of International Relations and Global Affairs, Mahidol University International College in collaboration with the Embassy of Bahrain in Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a way to enhance more public engagement and understanding on foreign affairs, with the participation of more than 200 audiences including the Ambassadors and Consuls - General of the Middle Eastern countries in Thailand, students, lecturers, and the interested public.