Weekly Press Briefing on Thursday 10 February 2022 at 13:30 hours via Facebook LIVE

      1. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn participated in the 2022 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Beijing. (3 – 5 February 2022)

• HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn paid a visit to People's Republic of China and attended the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games on 4 February 2022 in Beijing.
• On February 4, 2022, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn met and was hosted breakfast by H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
• The Thai athlete team consisted of two men and two women competing in two sports:
  1. Mr. Mark Chanloung – Men Cross-country Skiing
  2. Ms. Karen Chanloung – Women Cross-country Skiing
  3. Mr. Nicola Zanon – Men Alpine Skiing
  4. Ms. Mida Fah Jaiman – Women Alpine Skiing

• Minister of Tourism and Sports, visited China along with the Thai Olympic Committee and the Sports Authority of Thailand to participate in the opening ceremony and support athletes of the Thai National Team. They also met with Mr. Gou Zhongwen, Minister of Sport, General Administration of Sport of China and President of Chinese Olympic Committee. The Thai side expressed admiration for China’s management that used technologies instead of manpower to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst athletes and staff. They also discussed about cooperation and exchanges in sports between Thailand and China and about pushing the Muay Thai sport into the international competitions.
  
  2. Follow up to the Prime Minister’s official visit to Saudi Arabia

• Following the official visit of the Prime Minister of Thailand to Saudi Arabia on 24 – 25 January 2022 where both sides agreed to fully normalise the diplomatic relations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies have formulated an action plan to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various areas for concrete result. The relevant actions which have been taken include:

Diplomatic/Political Cooperation

• During the official visit, the Prime Minister invited HRH Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia to visit Thailand. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia graciously accepted the invitation to visit Thailand within 2022.
• On 11 February 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host a meeting with related agencies to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also expediting the appointment of the Thai ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as well as setting up of bilateral consultation mechanism in senior officials' level and ministerial level.

Economic Cooperation

• On 7 February 2022, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand met with Mr. Sanan Angubolkul, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and representatives from private sector to discuss the potential areas and sectors for cooperation including hospitality, tourism, energy, automotive industry, construction, and human resource management. The meeting also stressed the importance and the complementary nature of the Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model (BCG) and the Saudi Vision 2030 policy.
• The meeting discussed the possibility of organising a Trade Mission to be headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, comprising government officials and representative of leading Thai private sector, to visit Saudi Arabia.

Labour Cooperation

• On 7 February 2022, the Ministry of Labour held a meeting to review an employment agreement under the memorandum of understanding (MOU) system to facilitate the Thai workers to Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will jointly consider the draft agreement.
  
  3. The Official Visit to Thailand of Secretary-General of the Muslim World League

• E. Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, is scheduled to pay an official visit to Thailand as Guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand during 14 - 18 February 2022 to strengthen the relationship between Thailand and the Muslim World League and to have interfaith dialogues with Thai dignitaries, academic scholars, university students, and Thai Muslim leaders.
• During the visit to Thailand, the delegation of the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League will strictly follow the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to ensure safety of the Thai people as well as the general public.
  
  4. Phone Conversation between DPM/FM Don and FM of Bangladesh (31 January 2022)

• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand had a telephone conversation with H.E. Dr. Abulkalam Abdul Momen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. Both sides discussed the repatriation process of displaced persons in Bangladesh to Rakhine State. DPM/FM Don reiterated Thailand’s readiness to support the repatriation process both bilaterally and multilaterally within the ASEAN framework.
• The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh expressed appreciation to the Thai Government for the repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals from Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bangladeshi side also appreciated Thailand’s offer of the Duty Free/Quota Free (DFQF) scheme and encouraged more investment from Thai investors in various sectors, particularly in the agro-processing industries.
• Both sides also welcomed the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Bangladesh in 2021 and agreed to support and promote celebratory activities throughout the year, including the exchange of high-level visits to strengthen bilateral relations.
  
  5. The First APEC’s Senior Officials’ Meeting

• The first APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM 1) and related meetings will be held, fully virtually, on 14 – 25 February 2022. More than 30 working group meetings and seminars will be held throughout this period, covering a range of issues from trade and investment to connectivity, digitalization, food security, health, environment and sustainable development. The outcomes of the discussion at the working group level will be reported to the Senior Officials’ Meeting, which will take place on 24 - 25 February 2022.
• APEC Senior Officials’ Meetings are one of the key mechanisms driving APEC’s work. Four (4) Senior Officials’ Meetings will be organized throughout the year and conclusions from these meetings will form part of the outcomes of the Ministerial Meetings and reflected in APEC Leaders’ Document at the end of the year.
• The first APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM1) will consist of 19 meetings under all four APEC’s Committees as well as policy dialogues and meetings organized by Thailand to advance the priorities of Thailand’s host year.
• In addition, recommendations from the APEC Business Advisory Council will also be deliberated at these meetings to ensure that APEC’s mechanism also incorporates and responds to needs of the business sector.
• Thailand, as APEC 2022 host, aims to move forwards its priorities and key deliverables, under the theme “OPEN. CONNECT. BALANCE.”
  
  6. SOM1 virtual media conference and APEC Media Registration

• The virtual media conference for SOM1 will be held on Friday 25 February 2022 at 12.30 – 13.15 hrs. BKK time (05.30 – 06.15 GMT). Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand and SOM Chair 2022 and Dr. Rebecca Sta Maria, APEC Secretariat Executive Director, will be the speakers for the conference with Director-General of The Department of Information as the moderator.
• This virtual media conference will provide opportunities for media to participate and discuss about Thailand’s host year, including the policy priorities for APEC 2022.
• Press and media who wish to join the virtual conference need to be accredited through APEC 2022 media registration. Details of the media registration and the conference can be found in the Media Kit https://www.apec2022.go.th/apec-senior-officials-meeting-1-som1-media-kit/ If you need assistance with the registration process at any stage, please ask for further information from [email protected].
• Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affair has made a video clip for promoting “APEC2022THAILAND, we never stop” we never stop for a sustainable future.
• For over 33 years, APEC has been a thought incubator for the Asia-Pacific region that never stops developing. Today, Thailand, as the host of APEC2022, does not cease open to all opportunities, connected in all dimensions and create balance in all aspects, to develop for a sustainable future for everyone
• We would like to invite you to watch this video and help us by sharing this video to promote awareness and understanding about Thailand as the host of APEC2022.
• Please click https://www.facebook.com/APEC2022Thailand/videos/472873004339443/

       7. Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) organised a competition to promote hosting the Global South-South Development Expo 2022

• Thailand International Cooperation Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized a competition to promote hosting the Global South-South Development Expo 2022, a forum to exchange experiences and international development practices to drive South-South and Trilateral cooperation of public sector, private sector, and civil society sector and all organizations under the United Nations system. For more information, visit thaidevelopmentexpo.com
  
  8. Preparation for assistance for Thai nationals in Ukrain

• The ongoing tensions on Ukraine-Russia border have not caused any adverse effect on Thais in Ukraine. However, the Royal Thai Embassy in Warsaw, covering Ukraine, has been working with relevant authorities concerning the evacuation plans in each scenario for Thais in Ukraine if needed. 
• The Royal Thai Embassy in Warsaw provides the communication channels for Thais in Ukraine for updated information as follows; (1) “Royal Thai Embassy, Warsaw, Poland” and “Thais in Ukraine” Facebook group (2) “Line” chat application group and will soon create “Telegram” chat application group, and (3) Hotline number (24 hours) at + 48 696 642 348

Weekly Press Briefing:  https://www.facebook.com/ThaiMFA/videos/641379180519834

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