Weekly press briefing by MFA spokesperson
on Thursday, 17 February 2022 at 13:30 hours
via MFA Facebook Live

 1. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to attend the Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific (20-24 Feb. 2022)

• DPM/FM and Mrs. Pornpimol Kanchanalak, Advisor to FM, will visit the French Republic, from 20-24 February 2022 to attend the Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. France, in the capacity as President of the Council of the EU from January to June 2022, will host the Forum at the Ministerial Conference Center in Paris.
• France has invited 57 FMs from the EU Member States and countries from the Indo-Pacific region, countries in the South Pacific Ocean, as well as Canada, to participate in the Forum. The Forum will include three roundtable meetings on issues related to (1) security and defense,
  (2) digital and connectivity, and (3) global issues such as climate change, the protection of oceans, biodiversity, and global health. DPM/FM will deliver remarks at the roundtable meeting on the global issues, advancing Thailand’s interests and leadership in strategic cooperation of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) in alignment with the EU Strategy for the Indo-Pacific.
• DPM/FM will have a bilateral meeting with Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic. Both sides will sign the Roadmap for Thai-French Relations (2022-2024) to elevate bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership by 2024 which will bring greater benefits to Thailand in political, economic and social dimensions. 

2. ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (AMM Retreat) (17 Feb. 2022)

• DPM/FM is participating in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (AMM Retreat) today (17 February 2022) via videoconference.
• The AMM Retreat is the first FMs’ meeting under the Cambodian Chair, who will present its priorities under the theme “ASEAN A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Together”, focusing on the spirit of ASEAN togetherness and enhancing cooperation in addressing various challenges that affects the region and ASEAN citizens.
• The AMM Retreat is to follow up on the outcomes of last October’s 38th and 39th Summits, including the COVID-19 responses, economic recovery, ASEAN Community-building efforts, and ASEAN’s External Relations, as well as to exchange views on regional and international issues and situations of common concern, including the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, regarding the situation in Myanmar.
• DPM/FM will promote cooperation on the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model and update the meeting on Thailand’s undertakings as the host of APEC in 2022, the ASEAN Coordinator for Sustainable Development Cooperation and the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations.

3. Discussion between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (14 Feb. 2022)

• H.E. Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) paid a courtesy call on DPM/FM at the MFA.
• Both sides discussed ways to promote and strengthen cooperation on multicultural society and peaceful coexistence of people of different faiths and civilizations worldwide. The Secretary-General of the MWL appreciated Thai government’s policy which aims to promote interfaith dialogues, freedom of religions and harmony in the society. He added that Thailand is a role model for peaceful multicutural society, where people have lived together peacefully with respect to law and the sharing mindset, regardless of their races or religions.
• The Secretary-General of the MWL paid a courtesy call on the PM, His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, President of the National Assembly, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Minister of Culture. He would also attend the ceremony to receive the honorary degree awarded by Fatoni University to be held at Al Meroz Hotel on 18 February 2022.

4. APEC First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) Discussion on Sustainability in SOM1’s Sub-fora Meetings (14-25 Feb. 2022)

• During the first four days, the Thai delegation discussed and exchanged views with other APEC delegates in 19 APEC working groups, covering food security; fisheries and marine resources; intellectual property; customs procedures and investment promotion.
• Discussions are in two main topics: (1) Promotion of economic activities that fosters balanced and sustainable economic development; and
  (2) how Science, Technology and Innovation and digitalization can be leveraged to aid trade and investment and improve the people’s well-being.
• (1) Promotion of economic activities that fosters balanced and sustainable economic development, which emphasized the following issues;
  • The Ocean Fisheries Working Group (OFWG) Meeting discussed various initiatives on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) and marine debris reduction, including Thailand’s proposal on sharing of knowledge and experience on small-scale fisheries data management for sustainable development and a technical workshop on marine debris to help drive the OFWG’s agenda this year.
  • The Experts’ Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT) Meeting discussed impact of COVID-19 on illegal logging and mitigating measures, and promoting legal timber trades through innovations. Thailand briefed the EGILAT on the preparation of the 5th APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry, to be hosted by Thailand in August this year to put forward the important agenda on sustainable forestry such as legal timber trade facilitation and sustainable forest resources management using innovation, based on the BCG model.
  • The Policy Partnership on Food Security (PPFS), under the chairmanship of Thailand, also discussed the development of the APEC Food Security Roadmap Towards 2030 implementation plan and food security declaration which will be an outcome of the Ministerial Meeting on Food Security in August. The Ministerial Meeting will put an emphasis on integrating the BCG concepts and the 3S (Security, Safety, Sustainability) approach in APEC’s work on enhancing food security in the region.
• Promoting balanced, inclusive and sustainable development is one of Thailand’s key priorities as host of APEC2022. Throughout this year, Thailand will focus our efforts to chart the region towards post-COVID-19 economic recovery by embracing the principles of the BCG model to achieve a balance between economic and environmental objectives. The working group meetings during SOM1 are part of an important first step towards achieving the key deliverables, which are to be endorsed by APEC leaders in November this year.
• (2) How Science, Technology and Innovation and digitalization can be leveraged to aid trade and investment and improve the people’s well-being. The meeting under this topic emphasized the following issues;
  • The Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI) discussed the importance of STI in driving APEC towards inclusive and sustainable growth that is also resilient against future shocks. Thailand proposed several projects under PPSTI including the municipal waste management based on the BCG model.
  • The Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP), where Thailand’s policy interest is on post-COVID trade recovery and digital connectivity and the Digital Economy Steering Group (DESG), where Thailand leads the review of the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER), already underway for 5 years, and presented recommendations for trade document standards to facilitate digital trade in APEC.
  • The Health Working Group (HWG) meeting discussed, among other things, health-related innovation and digital tools as ways to achieve resilient health systems and balance between health and the economy, as Thailand will host the High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy in August 2022.
  • The Anti-Corruption and Transparency Experts’ Working Group (ACTWG), under Thailand’s chairmanship, organized a “Workshop on Technology for Transparency: Digital Disruption to Corruption”. Participants also shared their experiences and discussed development of APEC’s anti-corruption strategic plan 2023-2026.

5. The First APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) meeting (15-17 Feb. 2022)

• The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) convened the First Meeting of ABAC for 2022 in hybrid format during 15-17 February in Singapore. Chaired by Mr. Supant Mongkolsuthree, ABAC Chair, this platform is an opportunity for government officials to listen to the collective voice of the business community. Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand and APEC SOM Chair, discussed with ABAC representatives and APEC Senior Officials on how to collaborate and align APEC and ABAC priorities and workplans for 2022.
• APEC SOM Chair reported the outcome of the APEC Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) held in Phuket in December last year. The meeting discussed on important issues such as regional economic integration, economic and fiscal situation, digital economy, safe reopening of border, sustainable and inclusive. The results of the meetings will also be delivered in APEC First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1).
• The ABAC is private sector mechanism of APEC, which provides advice to APEC Leaders on free and open trade, trade and investment facilitation. The ABAC convenes 4 meetings annually to provide recommendations to report to APEC Economic Leaders Meeting at the end of the year.
• The ABAC has played significant role in advancing Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) as well as APEC Business travel Card (ABTC).

6. Preparation for assistance for Thai nationals in Ukraine

• The Royal Thai Embassy in Warsaw, covering Ukraine, has been working to ensure safety of Thai nationals in Ukraine such as providing the communication channels for Thais in Ukraine (around 230 persons) for updated information via “Line” chat application group. The Department of Consular Affairs released announcement on 13 February 2022 informing Thai nationals to refrain from unnecessary travel to Ukraine.
• H.E. Mr. Chettaphan Maksamphan, Ambassador of Thailand to Warsaw, and team visited Lviv, Ukraine (city in western Ukraine, nearby Ukraine-Poland borders) during 13-15 February 2022. The visit aimed to explore the possibility of using Lviv as an evacuation base for Thai nationals. Ambassador Chettaphan and team also met with Lviv airport manager and explored route from Lviv to Warsaw, hotels, restaurants, and COVID-19 test facilities.
• Ambassador also visited Thai Spa “Wai Thai” to meet Thai community and provide supports to them.
• On 17 February 2022, the Royal Thai Embassy in Warsaw will attend the meeting, chaired by Director-General of Consular Affairs, concerning the evacuation plan for Thai nationals in Ukraine with relevant Thai authorities.

7. Thailand’s financial contribution to Tonga for its rehabilitation efforts on the aftermath of the volcanic eruption

• On 16 February 2022, on behalf of Thai Government, H.E. Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia, presented a financial contribution in the amount of 25,000 USD to HRH Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho, High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Commonwealth of Australia, for relief and rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of the volcanic eruption.
• Ambassador Busadee also informed HRH of another financial contribution in the amount of 20,000 USD from a group of Thai people to Tonga. HRH expressed her appreciation to the Thai Government and the Thai people for kind support during difficult times.
• Both sides also exchanged views on the relief and rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of the volcanic eruption, the ongoing Agricultural Development Cooperation Project as well as the impact of COVID-19.

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Weekly Press Briefing:  https://fb.watch/bdIRTLaSsl/