Summary of the Weekly Press Briefing
By Director-General of the Department of Information and MFA Spokesperson
on 29 October 2026 at 15:00 hrs. at MFA Press Conference Room

1. Outcomes of the visit to Italy, Vatican City, Spain and Portugal from 19 to 23 October 2026 by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

   Key Activities/Meetings included

1. The attendance of the Deputy Prime Minister at the ceremony conferring the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic upon Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya. The decoration was bestowed by H.E. Mr. Sergio Mattarella, President of Italy, at the Presidential Palace in Italy on 20 October 2026, in recognition of Her Royal Highness’s contributions to promoting Thailand-Italy relations, particularly in the field of arts, culture and fashion, which have helped strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries. 
   
   
2. During the visit to these countries, the Deputy Prime Minister also paid courtesy  calls on his counterparts, as follows:

• His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy  See, and   Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and
   International Organizations of the Holy See, on 19 October;
  
  
• H.E. Mr. José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, on 21 October. The two ministers also co-chaired the 8^th Thailand - Spain Political Consultations and delivered opening remarks at the 4th Thailand - Spain Forum which served as a platform for leading academics from both Thailand and Spain to exchange views and explore avenues for cooperation in cybersecurity, smart cities, and science and technology; and
  
  
• H.E. Mr. Paulo Rangel, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, on 23 October;
  
  
• Deputy Prime Minister also held a telephone discussion with H.E. Mr. Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy on 21 October.
  
  

    3. Key issues raised by the Deputy Prime Minister with his counterparts included: 

• The promotion of bilateral relations and cooperation in political and economic affairs, trade, investment, technology, innovation and people-to-people exchanges, with particular emphasis on medical science, agriculture, clean energy, start-ups, the digital economy, tourism, infrastructure and defence industries.
  
  
• The Deputy Prime Minister also underlined the importance of multilateralism and a rules-based international order in his discussion with his counterparts, which was a perspective strongly shared by all, and they exchanged views on key international developments and regional issues.
  
  
• The Deputy Prime Minister also addressed Thailand’s relations with the European Union (EU), particularly the Thailand - EU FTA negotiations, visa facilitation for Thai nationals, and support for Thailand’s accession to the OECD.
  
  

    4. Key Outcomes: The Deputy Prime Minister co-signed the following three important documents

• An MoU between the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic School of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain to promote cooperation in diplomatic training and capacity-building.
  
  
• The Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Official Passports between Thailand and Spain; and
  
  
• The Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports between Thailand and Portugal.
  
  

The visits significantly contributed to deepening Thailand’s relations with its partners in Southern Europe and generated renewed momentum for cooperation across a broad range of areas, including politics, economic affairs, trade, investment, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges. The visa exemption agreements signed during the visits will further facilitate travel and promote closer contacts and exchanges in the years ahead.

2. Outcomes of the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Thailand – Malaysia Committee on Joint Development Strategy for Border Areas (JDS) and the 16th Meeting of the Thailand – Malaysia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JC) held on 27 October 2026 at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok

The meetings were co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia.

Key discussions raised in the two meetings, which are of importance and benefit to both Thais and Malaysians included the following

• On border security and peace: Importance was placed on creating an environment conducive to development, which means advancing implementation of the JDS Plan of Action 2024–2027 in a more dynamic and proactive manner and utilizing the Joint Working Committee on Security Cooperation as a policy-level platform on border security management.
  
  
• On connectivity: Both sides supported expediting the construction of a parallel bridge across the Golok River, as well as the resumption of railway services between Sungai Kolok and Rantau Panjang. The proposal to extend border checkpoint operating hours to enhance connectivity between the two countries’ border special economic zones was also discussed.
  
  
• On trade and investment: Both sides set a target of achieving bilateral trade worth USD 30 billion by 2027 and agreed to convene the 4th Joint Trade Committee (JTC) Meeting at the earliest opportunity to discuss ways to further strengthen economic cooperation. They also agreed to enhance linkages between their special economic zones to promote bilateral trade, particularly in the rubber and halal food industries. Thailand and Malaysia will also establish a Joint Ministerial Committee on Transport Cooperation (JMC), which will serve as a key mechanism to advance cross-border connectivity.
  
  
• On people-to-people relations: Both sides agreed to facilitate cross-border travel in accordance with the Roadmap for Tourism Cooperation, as well as  finalise the MOUs on education and labour for signing during the 8th Annual Consultation  between the two leaders, which Thailand will host next year. Both sides also agreed to cooperate on flood management and finalize the MOU on Integrated River Basin Management to safeguard the lives and property of people residing along both sides of the Golok River.
  
  

3. DPM/FM to attend the 11th Mekong – Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Minister’s Meeting in Beijing between 2 - 4 November 2026

• The meeting will be attended by representatives of 6 member countries, namely Thailand, China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. 
  
  
• Deputy Prime Minister Sihasak will co-chair the meeting with H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of China. 
  
  
• The objective: to review progress of the cooperation under the MLC framework, discuss future cooperation, and prepare for the 5th MLC Leaders’ Meeting.
  
  
• For Thailand, this is an opportunity to promote cooperation to address and tackle urgent challenges within the subregion, such as combating transnational crime, managing water resources, and dealing with transboundary haze. Thailand will underline its readiness to serve as Co-Chair for the 5^th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Leaders’ Meeting, which is scheduled to take place later this year.
  
  
• While in Beijing, the Deputy Prime Minister will attend the APEC Ministerial Meeting on 13 November in an online format. 
  
  
  

Watch a full breifing at https://fb.watch/KyVWL9-GV2/