Remarks by
H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra,
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand
at the Joint Press Conference during the Official Visit to Thailand by
H.E. Mr. Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore
on 28 November 2024 at 11.45 hrs. at the Government House, Bangkok

Your Excellency Mr. Lawrence Wong,

Members of the media,

1. Today, it is my honour to welcome Your Excellency Mr. Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore. I am quite excited as you are the first leader to make an official visit to Thailand since I am Prime Minister. However, Prime Minister Wong and I have already met before here and there around the globe, in the ASEAN Meeting in Lao PDR and in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Peru.
2. As we gear up for the celebration of the 60^th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between our two countries next year, the visit provides us with a chance to take stock of existing collaborations and chart the course for future ones.
3. We will certainly see more exchanges of high-level visits next year, starting with the visit to Singapore by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in January. And certainly, we look forward to having the Singaporean President pay us an official visit. And I myself intend to reciprocate an official visit to Singapore to follow-up and follow-through with Prime Minister Wong on things we discussed today.
4. Apart from the MoU on educational cooperation signed just now, Prime Minister Wong and I had a fruitful discussion on issues of mutual interest, namely people-to-people ties, security and defence, trade and investment, as well as food security, energy security, digital and green economy, and sustainability.
5. We wish to see more trade and investment between our two countries. Thailand is keen to help strengthen Singapore’s food security especially through the increase of our premium rice and organic egg exports to Singapore.
6. On digital and green economy, we discussed about promoting collaboration on green technologies and investments in renewable energy and bio-based industries, which will help both our countries achieve our carbon neutrality and net zero emission commitments.
7. As the strength of our friendship is based on people-to-people ties, Thailand appreciates Singapore’s granting of scholarships for our civil servants. We also discussed ways to increase human resources development, which Singapore is very well-known for, especially in educational exchanges for upskilling and reskilling of our workforces in this dynamic world.
8. We also share a common aspiration to see a return of peace and stability in Myanmar. The extended informal consultation among ASEAN countries in Bangkok next month would be an opportunity for frank discussion on practical way forward for ASEAN on this matter.
9. I think these would all wrap up what Prime Minister Wong and I have discussed. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future for us to follow-up on these topics that we have talked about at the sidelines of meetings around the world.
10. On my final note, I wish to reiterate that the warm Thai - Singaporean friendship has certainly helped us to work together to bring prosperity and well-being to both our countries and peoples. And as next year is an important milestone in our relationship, I certainly look forward to closer, deeper, and broader cooperation in all areas of common interest.
11. Thank you.

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