Summary of Press Briefing by H.E. Mr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

On the Meeting of Thai Ambassadors and Consuls-General for 2023

on Friday 24 November 2023 at 11.40-12.00 hrs.

at Press Conference Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• The Meeting of Thai Ambassadors and Consuls-General for 2023 was held during 19-24 November 2023 in Bangkok, the first time in 7 years, with an aim to provide the Thai Ambassadors and Consuls-General of the Government’s foreign policy approach “proactive economy diplomacy” that is tangible and responsive towards national interest and well-being of the citizens.
• The Meeting saw the participation of 97 Thai Ambassadors, Consuls-General, Chargé d’affairs, and Acting Consuls-General from 65 Royal Thai Embassies, 28 Royal Thai Consulates General, three Permanent Missions of Thailand to the United Nations and ASEAN, and one Thai Economic and Cultural Office. Invitations were also extended to the Permanent Representatives of Thailand to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) under the Ministry of Commerce.
• On 24 November 2023, Ambassadors and Consuls-General, as well as the MFA’s executives, were granted royal audience by HM the King and Queen of Thailand at Dusidalai Hall, Chitralada Villa. The Ambassadors and Consuls-General also visited the 904 Royal Volunteers Training Center earlier on 23 November 2023.
• During the opening session on 21 November 2023, H.E. Mr. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister, delivered a policy statement on “proactive diplomacy” to put Thailand back on the international community’s radar and to uplift the Thai economy. Also held were brainstorming sessions to sharpen the direction of trade promotion and attract foreign investments in the context of current dynamics of geopolitics, geo-economics, and geo-technological competition.
• On 23 November 2023, representatives of MFA, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), and the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) jointly presented to the PM targeted countries for trade and investment in line with the potential of countries and markets, Mega Trends, and Thailand’s investment strategy.
• The Meeting also aimed to intensify economic, trade and investment cooperation with other important actors, especially neighbouring countries and member States of other economic cooperation frameworks such as Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS); ASEAN; Bay of Bengal Initiative Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC); Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); and the European Union (EU). Thailand will also seek to join other platforms such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
• There were also various sessions to discuss with border provincial governors, academia, the private sector in trade, industry, finance, real estate, services, energy, and start-ups on trending issues, e.g. digital economy, soft power, technology and innovation, the Landbridge project, energy security, carbon neutrality and carbon credit.
• At the meeting, Ambassadors, Consuls-General, Chargé d’affairs, and Acting Consuls-General, also exchanged views on how to enhance services to Thais, both those living in Thailand and abroad, which is one of the Ministry’s main duties and has become more important in the current global context when assistance are rendered to Thai nationals during emergency situations.
• All parties agreed to jointly implement the outcomes of the meeting and drive the government’s policies toward the benefits of the Thai people.

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Press Division

Department of Information

Watch full session: https://fb.watch/ow1S0bu7MG/?mibextid=qC1gEa