Summary of Weekly Press Briefing by

Director-General of Department of Information/Spokesperson of MFA

Thursday, 29 August 2024 at 11.00 hrs.

Press Conference Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MFA FB Live

1. Joint session of the National Assembly to approve the Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Thailand and the European Union and its member states

• On 29 August 2024 (today), the National Assembly of Thailand is currently considering an approval of the Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Thailand and the European Union with its member states, which has an objective to elevate Thailand - EU relations to a closer partnership.
• The PCA has been negotiated between Thailand and the EU with its 27 member states as the basis for enhancing dialogue and expanding cooperation in various fields, including politics, economy, trade, investment and social issues, as well as tangible cooperation to address environmental, technological and innovative changes, and emerging security challenges, including cyber, maritime governance, as well as migration, climate change, and sustainable development. The PCA is based on the shared values, such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
• The PCA will promote Thailand - EU trade and investment cooperation, especially towards expediting the conclusion of the Thai-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, given that the EU is Thailand’s 4^th largest trading partner and 6^th largest investor. It is also an opportunity for businesses to achieve standards and best practices that will improve their competitiveness, as well as access to funding and research opportunities, contributing to Thailand’s OECD membership application and role as the EU’s strategic partner in the Southeast Asian region.
• The PCA will come into effect 30 days from the date that the EU is notified of Thailand’s internal approval process in writing by the Thai side.

2.  Thai delegation to attend the 50^th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (OIC-CFM 50) in Yaounde, Cameroon (29-30 August 2024)

• E. Mr. Darm Boontham, Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the OIC, will lead the Thai delegation to attend the OIC-CFM 50 in Yaounde, Cameroon.
• OIC-CFM 50 will be held under the theme ‘Developing Intra-OIC Transportation and Communication Infrastructure: Key Instrument for Combating Poverty and Insecurity.’ Thailand’s participation will ensure continued dynamism of Thailand - OIC cooperation. Thailand’s Head of Delegation will have bilateral meetings to enhance relations with OIC member states.
• The OIC was established in 1969. There are currently 57 member countries with the Secretariat in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while the current Secretary-General is H.E. Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, African Integration and International Cooperation of Chad. Thailand has been an Observer to the OIC since 1 October 1998.

3. Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs to attend the “AOIP Forum: Towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals ๒๐๓๐” in Vientiane, Lao PDR (30 August 2024)

• Eksiri Pintaruchi, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, will attend activities of the “AOIP Forum: Towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030” in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
• The Forum has a high-level segment, where the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR will give an opening remarks and the ASEAN Secretary General will give a pre-recorded remarks, and a panel discussion on 3 topis, which are Connecting the Connectivities: Towards a Green ASEAN, Climate Resilience, and Green Production and Consumption.
• The AOIP document was adopted by the 34^th ASEAN Summit in 2019 with main objectives to maintain strategic dynamism of ASEAN and promote cooperation with external parties under 4 priority areas: maritime cooperation; connectivity; the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals; and economic and other possible areas of cooperation. The first AOIP Forum took place in 2023, under Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship.

4. Cooperation with China and Lao PDR on Mekong River water resource management for flood prevention

• The Thai Government attaches highest priority on flood prevention and mitigation, especially during the current period where there is heavy rain across the county and Thailand’s northern provinces have been widely affected. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affair has actively coordinated with relevants agencies to mitigate the problem.
• On 27 August 2024, the Ministry has conveyed to both Lao PDR and China the request to closely monitor Mekong River water levels, particularly during this time, to coordinate on information sharing and alerts, and if necessary, to consider delaying the release of water from the relevant Mekong River dams. Both countries agreed to convey Thailand’s request to their relevant agencies and reaffirmed their firm commitment to cooperation on Mekong River water resource management. 
• The Ministry has uitilized both bilateral and Multilateral cooperation frameworks to address this problem. These efforts include above requests to Lao PDR and China, as well as utilising existing early waring machanism under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) to circulate information across member countries concurrently, of which the 9^th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was recently held on 16 August 2024 in Chiang Mai province.