Summary of Weekly Press Briefing
by Director-General of Department of Information and MFA Spokesperson
17 September 2024 at 11.00 hrs.
Buakaew Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MFA FB Live

1. Foreign Minister’s upcoming missions abroad

• The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) in New York
  • The Minister of Foreign Affairs, representing the Prime Minister, will attend the UNGA79) during 23 – 30 September 2024 in New York to attend the opening of the session, deliver a statement at the General Debate, and participate in other meetings, including the Summit of the Future (SotF) and the Annual Ministerial Meeting of Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage and Global Health (GoF on UHC).
  • The Summit of the Future is regarded as the most important event of the UNGA79 High-Level Week under the theme ‘Summit of the Future: Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow,’ while Thailand is a member and co-chair of the Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage and Global Health, under the theme ‘Realizing financial protection to ensure Universal Health Coverage and health equity,’ hence, Thailand’s participation will reflect long-standing international leadership on UHC.
• The 3rd Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit in Doha
  • The Foreign Minister will accompany the Prime Minister to attend the 3^rd ACD Summit during 2 - 3 October 2024 in Doha, Qatar, under the Chairmanship of Iran.
  • The key theme of the meeting is Sport Diplomacy, and the ‘Doha Declaration’ will be adopted to express high-level political will on Sport Diplomacy and supoort the ACD to be a forum for policy discussion among Asian countries to advance cooperation, address challenges arising from geopolitical considerations, as well as promote mutual understanding and trust between members for mutual benefits.
  • This visit will be the Prime Minister’s first overseas travel for an international meeting, and the Foreign Minister’s first time accompanying her. Thailand will assume the ACD chairmanship from 1 January 2025.
• The ASEAN ministerial-level meetings and the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane
  • The Foreign Minister will attend ASEAN ministerial-level meetings on 8 October 2024 and accompany the Prime Minister to attend the 44^th and 45^th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, during 9 - 11 October 2024, at the National Convention Centre, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
  • Ministerial-level meetings in preparation for the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits include the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), the 28th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting, the 35th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting, which will be an opportunity to follow up on the progress of issues, such as the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar and relations with external parties.
  • Other important meetings are the ASEAN Summits and the Summits between ASEAN and Dialogue Partners, totaling 11 meetings, the Signing Ceremony of the Instruments of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), as well as the Closing Ceremony and Handing Over of the ASEAN Chairmanship to Malaysia.

2. The 62nd Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) in Bangkok

• During 9 - 13 September, Thailand hosted the 62^nd Annual Session of AALCO, which was attended by 39 member countries and 7 international organisations. Mrs. Suphanvasa Chotikajan Tang, Director-General, MFA Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, was elected chairperson of the meeting.
• The meeting discussed issues including, the work of the International Law Commission’s 75^th session, climate change, law of the sea, the question of Palestine, violent extremism and terrorism, international trade and investment law, cyberspace laws, and space laws. The ‘Krungthep Declaration’ was adopted to reaffirm the members’ commitment to the principle and objectives of AALCO, including youth participation in international legal development, especially on challenges that will affect the future generations.
• AALCO is an international organisation established to promote the role of Asian and African nations in the codification and development of international law, to align more with the interests of these states. In 2021, Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol was elected as AALCO’s seventh Secretary-General and was the first Thai person to hold the position. Prior to this meeting, Thailand hosted AALCO annual sessions twice, in 1966 and 1987.

3. The "Colours of Africa" event in Bangkok

• On 10 September 2024, the Deputy Permanent Secretary Busadee Santipitaks, representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, presided over the opening ceremony of the "Colours of Africa" event during 9 - 11 September 2024 at Central World, Bangkok. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with 12 African Embassies, to foster awareness and new perspectives on Africa among the Thai public, and to promote people-to-people relations.
• The event was well-received with several thousands of participants in attendance. Activities included quizzes on Africa-related topics, speech and drawing competitions, booths representing African Embassies, airlines, Thai hotels operating in Africa, as well as African food and beverage stalls, cultural performances, musical and fashion shows.

4. Opening of the Royal Thai Consulate-General (RTCG) in Siem Reap

• The RTCG Siem Reap in Cambodia was officially opened on 6 August 2024, with a consular area covering 8 provinces (Siem Reap, Battambang, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, and Pursat). The temporary office is situated at the Tara Angkor Hotel, while the RTCG’s office at Rose Apple Square is currently under construction and expected to open in the first quarter of 2025.
• The RTCG’s opening serves a number of benefits for Thailand, including more effective protection of Thai nationals, expanding opportunities for trade and investment, tourism and protection of Thai businesses, as well as better coordination with Cambodian counterparts on security matters and efforts to combat transnational crimes.

5. Announcement of the recipient of ‘Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award 2024’

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thailand Foundation will announce the 2024 Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award (TPDA) in recognition of contributions to Thailand’s public diplomacy to support the recipient in continuing their efforts, serve as an example to others, as well as raise awareness that everyone is able to contribute to public diplomacy.
• The announcement of the TPDA 2024 recipient will be held on 19 September 2024 at 13.30 hrs. at the Department of Information’s conference room.

6. Meet the Press #2 event to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise a “Meet the Press #2” event on 19 September 2024 at Buakaew Room for the Foreign Minister to meet and brief updates on foreign policy with both Thai and Foreign media persons in Thailand, followed by lunch together.

Watch full session: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/AoFCPicAEjfiaRvx/?mibextid=lpLi9V

* * * * *