On 15 September 2022, Mr. Monsak Jangariyawong, Minister Counsellor, and Miss Potchamas Saengthien, Counsellor, attended a meeting between the ASEAN Committee in Oslo (ACO), comprised of the five resident ASEAN Embassies in Oslo, including Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam with Ms. Åslaug Sem-Jacobsen (Centre Party), Member of Parliament from Telemark and Chair of Delegation to the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) and the ASEAN’s Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). The meeting was also attended by Mr. Truls Vasvik (Labour Party), Member of Parliament from Vestfold and member of ASEP, Mr. Christian Gahre, Head of Section, International Department, and Ms. Margrethe Saxegaard, Senior Advisor, International Department of the Parliament.

 

The meeting exchanged views and discussed many issues, including cooperation between Norway and ASEAN as Norway is a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN, the recent 7th meeting of ASEAN-Norway Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (AN-JSCC) in May 2022 and the upcoming 43rd AIPA General Assembly, scheduled to be held in November 2022 in Cambodia.

 

On Thailand’s part, Minister Counsellor Monsak supported the close cooperation between ACO and the Storting and congratulated the success of the recent visit to Thailand of the delegation to EFTA Parliamentary Committee to follow up and prepare for the ongoing Thai-EFTA FTA negotiation. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is comprised of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. During the visit, the delegation met with many important dignitaries of Thailand such as the President of National Assembly and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and Deputy Minister of Commerce. In this regard, it is hoped that both sides may also consider setting up an Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group between Thailand and Norway to promote cooperation and exchange of visits between the two Parliaments.

 

The Storting expressed gratification of the EFTA Parliamentary Committee’s visit to Thailand and stated that the proposal to set up an Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group between Thailand and Norway will be proposed for consideration at the next meeting of the Storting.

 

Norway received the sectoral dialogue partner status of ASEAN on 4 August 2015 and the Storting received the permanent observer status of the AIPA on 10 September 2020.