Summary of Weekly Press Briefing

by Director-General of Department of Information and MFA Spokesperson

12 January 2024 at 11.00 hours,

MFA Press Conference Room and MFA FB Live

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has produced a video clip summarizing its works and achievements in 2023. The full link could be viewed at https://youtu.be/_Y6vCnwdIRs.

1. Assistance to Thai people affected by fighting in Northern Myanmar

• Relevant agencies have safely evacuated a total of 549 Thai citizens and Thai residents out of Laukkaing, before the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and its alliance have taken control of the town on 4 January 2024. According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon, there are currently no Thai national left in Laukkaing.
• The RTE in Yangon and the Department of Consular Affairs have been working closely with the Focus Foundation and Immanuel Foundation to monitor the situation and provide assistance to Thai nationals in nearby towns, especially if evacuation is needed.
• The Department of Consular Affairs plans to work with Chiang Rai Province, Mae Fah Luang University, and the Focus Foundation to raise awareness among the locals to be more mindful when offered jobs with unusally high compensation in neighbering countries.

2. Assistance to Thai nationals following an earthquake in Japan

• The 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Ishikawa Prefecture’s Noto Peninsula in central Japan on 1 January 2024 has caused damage and triggered tsunami waves in nearby areas. There have been reports of more than 600 aftershocks. As of 11 January 2024, there are 213 deaths, 567 injuries, and 37 missing persons. The Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo has received no reports of casualties or injuries of Thai nationals.
• The RTE in Tokyo has coordinated with YOU-I Japan to assist affected Thai nationals in the areas. Thai companies in Japan have also donated products through YOU-I to assist those affected. The Ministry wishes to express its appreciation for their kind contribution.
• The Ministry advises Thai nationals in the affected areas to monitor the situation and follow warnings and instructions from the Japanese government. In case of emergency, Thai nationals can contact the RTE in Tokyo any time at +8190-4435-7812.

3. The return of ancient bronze scultures from the U.S. to Thailand

• On 4 January 2024, the Department of Fine Arts held a meeting of the committee to trace Thai antiquities aborad, chaired by the Culture Minister, to discuss related issues concerning the intention of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in the U.S. to return 2 bronze scultures, the Golden Boy and the Kneeling Female, to Thailand.
• The Royal Thai Consulate-General in New York has been closely coordinating with the Met, especially on planning the next steps including archeological experts’ visit to inspect the sculptures, the upcoming handover ceremony, and the signing of an MOU regarding long-term technical cooperation between Thailand and the Met. The sculptures are expected to be returned to Thailand by the first half of 2024.

4. The presentation ceremony of the 2023 Prince Mahidol Awards

• Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the 2023 Prince Mahidol Awards (PMA) on 24 January 2024 at the Chakri Throne Hall. 
• The 2023 PMA recipients are as follows:
  • In the field of Medicine, Professor Napoleone Ferrara, M.D. from USA / Italy won the prize for his discovery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the subsequent development of Bevacizumab as a treatment for highly vascularized, aggressive cancers and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  • In the field of Public Health, Dr. Barry H. Rumack, M.D. from USA won the prize for his creation of the Rumack–Matthews nomogram that has allowed doctors all over the world to appropriately diagnose paracetamol toxicity.
• Established in honor of HRH Prince Mahidol of Songkla as “The Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health of Thailand,” the PMA recognizes individual(s) or institution(s) with outstanding and exemplary contributions to the advancement of international medical and public health services. For over the past 30 years, the PMA has been internationally recognized with a total of 94 laureates, 6 of whom went on to win the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

5. Overseas missions of the Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in January 2024

• The DPM/FM is scheduled to be on two missions overseas:
  • The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, during 15 – 19 January 2024, which will be held under the theme of “Rebuilding Trust”.
  • The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ (AMM) Retreat in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, during 28 -29 January 2024, held under the theme of “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.
• the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs is appointed the PM’s Special Envoy to attend the 19th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), held in Kampala, Uganda, during 19 – 20 January 2024 under the theme of “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence”.
  

Watch full session: https://fb.watch/pwS9CgfuFd/?mibextid=qC1gEa

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