Summary of Weekly Press Briefing
on 29 March 2023, at 14.00 hrs.
Meeting room 1, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. Thailand’s Upcoming Overseas Voting (with Mr. Narong Boonsatheanwong, Deputy Director-General, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

• 1.1 Overview
  • In 2019, the total number of 119,313 Thais registered for overseas voting, with 10 highest number of voters from Australia (16,000 voters), China, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Republic of Korea, and France. The total number of voters is expected to be higher this time.
  • MFA is closely collaboraing with the Office fo the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT), the Ministry of Interior, and Thailand Post with a coordination meeting took place on 11 January 2023 and the next one to be held on 30 March 2023. MFA is currently distributing related equipment, supplied by the ECT, abroad to initiate necessary preparations.
  • MFA has also conducted a training for the staff of Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates, with speakers from the ECT to provide relevant information and operating procedures.
• 1.2 Registration process
  • The registration for overseas voting takes place during 25 March – 9 April 2023. As of 28 March 2023, the total number of 24,005 Thais have registered, with 5 highest number of voters from Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany
  • Overseas Thais can register to vote through 2 channels: (1) website (URL: https://stat.bora.dopa.go.th/Election/popout) – with one’s national ID card (including expiry ones) and a valid passport; or (2) contact RTE/CG in person/ by post/ fascimile/ or by authorised person.
• 1.3 Method of voting
  • The method of voting i.e. on-site polling booths, by post, mobile units are determined by the RTE/CG according to local context of each country to facilitate voters.
• 1.4 The Overseas Voting Monitoring System (OVMS)
  • To further enhance the preparations of overseas elections, drawn from previous experiences, MFA has developed the Overseas Voting Monitoring System (OVMS) to keep track of the latest progress in order to ensure smooth and transparent arrangements.
• 1.5 Registration for those who have registered in previous elections
  • Overseas Thais are required to register specifically for each respective election to provide latest information of their settlement.
• 1.6 Ballot counting abroad
  • Considering related regulations and other factors, all ballots must be counted in Thailand at present.
• 1.7 Other matters
  • Overseas Thais are encouraged to check the latest information on RTE/CG’s official websites and social media outlets, as well as the ECT’s Smart Vote application.
  • Related regulations clearly specify that overseas elections take place during 24 April – 5 May 2023.

2. Working visit to the Kingdom of Thailand by Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN

• Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, will be on his first working visit to Thailand during 29 March – 1 April 2023. Dr. Hourn, the current and 15^th ASEAN’s Secretary-General, is the first Cambodian national to ever hold this esteemed position; with his term running from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2027.
• Over the course of this visit, Dr. Hourn will pay a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Thailand, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He will also participate in (1) the 2^nd Ministerial Dialogue on Accelerating Actions to Achieve the SDGs and (2) the High-level Brainstorming Dialogue on Enhancing Complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: HLBD) on 31 March 2023 at the VIE Bangkok hotel, hosted by MFA.
• Furthermore , MFA, together with ASEAN Association-Thailand and the Internationl Studies Center (ISC), will jointly organize Dr. Hourn’s special talk under the topic “Why ASEAN Matters: Navigating our Shared Future” on 30 March 2023 at 14.00-15.00 hrs., at Vithes Samosorn. This event will also be livestreamed on the Ministry’s Facebook page and registration for on-site participation is also open to the general publc and the media via designated channels.
• In addition, Dr. Hourn is expected to visit (1) the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED), currently housed within the premises of the Bangrak Medical Center, Bangkok, and (2) the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD), established during Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2019.

3. The 10^th Asia-Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development (APFSD) and its Side Events

• During the 10^th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), which took place during 27-30 March 2023 at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) in Bangkok, seven miniterial-level Head of Delegations from ESCAP member States including Indonesia, Malaysia ,the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste. Other sub-ministerial level delegations were also present.
• This iteration of the APFSD aimed at the exchange of views on global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic which is essential to the attainment of the United Nations’s Agenda 2030. Following this Forum, UN member States are expected to continue their discussion during the high-level meetings under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to be held later in July 2023 in New York.
• Thailand has contributed this meeting as follows:
  • A statement by DPM/FM during the Opening ceremony
  • A bilateral meeting between DPM/FM and Mr. Li Jun Hua, Under-Secretary-General, Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Both sides discussed the enhancement of Thailand-UN cooperation to achieve SDGs and increase of Thai personnel in international organizations.
  • Launching Ceremony of Projects under the UN South-South Triangular Cooperation (SSTC)
    • This side event was co-hosted by Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRCO) at TICA’s activity booth, to present
      3 projects under SSTC covering issues including organic agriculture, global public health, and midwifery.
    • The launching ceremony was well-attended, with statements delivered by the Director-General of TICA/ UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand/ Director-General of the Department of International Organizations/ and the Ambassador of the European Union to Thailand. Representatives from related agencies were also present i.e. MOAC, MOPH, WHO, and UNFPA.
  • Later in the afternoon, the Director-General of the Department of International Organizations also delivered Thailand’s national statement informing issues of Thailand’s interest in terms of sustainable development.
  • The outcome of the 10^th APFSD is the Chair’s summary – with commentaries of ESCAP member States regarding regional issues which will then be presented to the upcoming High-Level Political Forum 2023 (HLPF 2023) in July 2023 in New York.

4. A Study Visit for the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Representatives in Bangkok and Spouses: Thailand's path towards Sufficiency and Green Economy at Krabi and Phang-nga Provinces 30 March - 1 April 2023

• During 30 March – 1 April 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will conduct a study visit for the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Representatives to Krabi and Phang-nga provinces, with activities include visitations to (1) the royally-initiated projects, in line with Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) and Thung Talay Forest Restoration and Conservation Project / (2) the Sea Turtle Conservation Project, a royally-initiated project of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother / and (3) the Thai Coral Reef and Marine Life Conservation Project, a royally-initiated project of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya. The delegations will also have an opportunity to attend a briefing on Thailand’s bid to host Expo 2028 in Phuket, Thailand.

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Weekly Press Briefing: https://fb.watch/jzRS8ipoyW/?mibextid=qC1gEa

Press Division

Department of Information