Senator the Honourable Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, will pay an Official Visit to Thailand, as Guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, during 1 - 2 November 2022.  

On 1 November 2022, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, will co-chair a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Wong and host a dinner in honour of the Australian Foreign Minister and her delegation. On this occasion, both Foreign Ministers will sign the Joint Plan of Action to Implement the Thailand - Australia Strategic Partnership 2022-2025.

On 2 November 2022, Foreign Minister Wong will also pay a courtesy call on H.E.General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), Prime Minister of Thailand and H.E. General Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister at the Government House. In addition, Foreign Minister Wong and H.E. Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin Minister of Justice of Thailand will sign the Memorandum of Understanding on Counter-Trafficking in Persons Center of Excellence, which will further strengthen cooperation in anti- human trafficking.

The Joint Plan of Action was underscored in the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership between Thailand and Australia signed by the two countries’ Prime Ministers on 13 November 2020 to elevate the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership. This four-year plan sets out collaborative projects and activities in multi-dimensional areas covering (1) political and military cooperation and non-traditional security including anti-transnational crimes, narcotics, and trafficking in person (2) economic cooperation, including BCG economy and digital economy, and (3) sectoral cooperation, including public health, agriculture, education, science, technology and research, energy, climate change and environment, disaster management, protection of the rights and equality of women, child, and people with disabilities. The Joint Plan of Action will be instrumental in assisting both countries in achieving post-pandemic recovery and sustainable long-term growth as well as enhancing cooperation in ASEAN-Australia, Mekong sub-regional and multilateral frameworks.

This Official Visit will be Foreign Minister Wong’s first visit to Thailand since assuming office as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia in May 2022.  It is a good opportunity for both sides to deepen relations and enhance cooperation, especially on the occasion of the 70^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Australia in 2022 and under our Strategic Partnership based on mutual benefits at both bilateral and regional levels.