Summary of Weekly Press Briefing

Friday 17 November 2023 at 11.00 hrs.

Press Conference Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. Annual Meeting of Thai Ambassadors and Consuls-General (20-24 Nov 2023)

• MFA will organize an annual meeting of Thai Ambassadors and Consuls-General in Bangkok, during 20 – 24 Nov 2023, under the theme “Proactive diplomacy in the Context of a Polarized World” to exchange views among Heads of Missions, commercial and investment attachés, as well as between Team Thailand abroad and representatives from various sectors in Thailand.
• The sessions will cover matters of the government’s strategic priorities, including trade and investment, proactive economic diplomacy, digital economy, green economy, environmental issues, climate change, landbridge, creative industry, soft power and tourism promotion.
• Key activities include:
  • Policy statements to be delivered by PM and DPM/FM;
  • Meeting between Ambassadors, Consuls-General, Commercial Attachés (Ministry of Commerce) and Investment Attachés (BOI);
  • Meeting between Ambassadors, Consuls-General and governors of border provinces;
  • Engagement with academic and private sectors to be briefed of their hopes and expectations.
• MFA will circulate media opportunities, including press opportunity with PM and press conference by DPM/FM, soonest.

2. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs to visit Thailand (22-23 Nov 23)

• E. Mr. Ali Bagheri Kani, DFM for Political Affairs of Iran, will pay an official visit to Thailand during 22-23 Nov 2023 to promote Thailand-Iran ties and discuss the situation in the Middle East. During the trip, Iranian DFM will meet with VFM Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Mr. Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House.
• In the past, Thailand and Iran have continuously exchanged high-level visits. Recently, on 31 Oct 2023, DPM/FM met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Doha, during their concurrent visits to Qatar, to exchange views on the situation in the Middle East.
• Long before the establishment of their diplomatic ties on 9 Nov 1955, Thailand and Iran have shared over 400 years of relations since the era of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and the Persian Empire. Both sides have established various mechanisms to promote bilateral cooperation, notably the Joint Trade Committee and Political Consultations.

3. Updates on the situation in Israel-Gaza

• Statistics on the effected Thai nationals
  • 39 deaths
  • 3 remain in hospital
  • 25 abductions
• On 10 Nov 2023, the Department of Consular Affairs held a ceremony to express appreciation and honor Ms. Vibhavadi Wannachai (P'Jam) for her courageous rescue of Thai workers in the immediate vicinity of the conflict.

4. Updates on the situation in Laukkaing

• The government has been closely following the situation and providing assistance to the effected Thai nationals.
• Overview of the effected Thai nationals
  • 254 Thai nationals have been verified and given emergency travel document by RTE in Yangon, waiting to be repatriated back to Thailand
  • 41 Thai nationals, escaped Laukkaing earlier and arrived in Kengtung (Chiang Tung) safely and are expected to return to Thailand via the Mae Sai - Tachileik Border Checkpoint, Chiang Rai province soon.
  • Upon their arrival in Thailand, these persons will be screened through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for human trafficking cases.

Watch full session: https://fb.watch/omRKcLzBw6/?mibextid=qC1gEa

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Press Division

Department of Information