Summary of Weekly Press Briefing

By the Director-General of the Department of Information and MFA Spokesperson

on 24 October 2025 at 11:30 hrs.

MFA Press Conference Room and MFA FB LIVE / TikTok LIVE

1. 47^th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits

• During 26-28 October 2025, H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister, will lead the Thai delegation to attend the 47^th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, held in Kuala Lumpur, under Malaysia’s Chairmanship theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”. However, prior to the Summit, there will also be meetings at the ministerial level, to which H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is already attending today in Kuala Lumpur.
  
  
• This Summit is the Prime Minister’s first international engagement, where Thailand is positioning itself as “A key strategic player for advancing peace, prosperity and development.” At these meetings, Thailand will focus on 4 main areas, namely;
  
  

1. As an active promoter of peace and stability, Thailand will advance enhanced ASEAN centrality by expanding meaningful cooperation with external partners through ASEAN-led mechanisms in line with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific;
   
   
2. As a key player for a secure region, Thailand will promote human security and address transboundary issues affecting people’s daily lives, such as online scams, human trafficking, haze pollution, pandemics and natural disasters;
   
   
3. As a driver for inclusive economic development, Thailand will advance economic integration, and also upgrade FTAs with external partners, driving digital transformation through the finalization of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) as soon as possible; and
   
   
4. As an agent of change for sustainability and ASEAN Coordinator for Sustainable Development, Thailand will advance cooperation both within ASEAN and with external partners on issues such as clean energy transition, climate change and green finance.
   
   

• In addition, the meetings are also expected to discuss regional and international issues, including situations in Myanmar, the South China Sea, the Middle East, and Russia-Ukraine.
  
  
• Regarding the situation on Myanmar, as Myanmar’s friend and neighbor, Thailand will play a proactive role in supporting ASEAN’s mechanisms to advance progress in the situation in Myanmar. A strengthened role of the ASEAN Special Envoy may be needed to effectively drive this agenda forward.
  

2. Latest development on the Thailand-Cambodia border situation

• One of the issues that may be in the interest of ASEAN Member States and external partners is the border situation between Thailand and Cambodia. Our position on this issue has always been clear and consistent: Thailand views it as a bilateral issue that needs to be addressed directly by both parties.
  
  
• In the past week, there were 2 important bilateral meetings, namely (1) the Special Meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) on 21-22 October in Chanthaburi Province, and (2) the 2^nd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) which was held on 23 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur. The latter one was preceded by the Secretariat-level meeting of both sides which started on 20 October 2025.
  
  
• During both JBC and GBC meetings, Thailand and Cambodia discussed and were able to make progress in detail on 4 issues that are a priority for Thailand: (1) the removal of heavy weapons from border areas; (2) humanitarian demining; (3) combating transnational crimes, especially online scams; and, (4) border area management, in particular in the areas of Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Keaw.
  
  
• In sum, Thailand’s efforts have led to Cambodia returning to the negotiating table with Thailand in matters of Thailand’s national interest and in fact, our mutual interest. This will pave and prepare the road to the signing of a joint declaration between Thailand and Cambodia on the sidelines of the upcoming ASEAN Summit, in which the United States and Malaysia will also be present as witnesses.
  
  
• The joint declaration is the result of four-party consultations between Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and the United States, held on three previous occasions, namely one in New York on the sidelines of the 80^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and subsequently on 2 occasions in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the past two weeks. These discussions were essentially bilateral negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia, with the United States and Malaysia facilitating and participating as observers.
  
  
• In conclusion, existing bilateral mechanisms continue to function effectively, yielding tangible progress and concrete developments. Thailand sincerely hopes that both sides will continue to engage in negotiations with sincerity and in good faith. This will help foster a conducive environment to restore the normalization of relations.
  
  

Watch the full session at: https://www.facebook.com/ThaiMFA