Weekly press briefing by MFA spokesperson 
on Wedesday, 23 February 2022 at 10:30 hours 
via MFA Facebook Live

1.The Official Visit of Prime Minister of Malaysia to Thailand (24- 26 Feb. 2022) 

• The Honourable Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, PM of Malaysia, will pay an Official Visit to Thailand as Guest of the Royal Thai Government. This will also be his introductory visit. During his visit, PM of Malaysia will have a bilateral meeting with PM of Thailand, at Government House on 25 February
• The two leaders to discuss ways to further advance bilateral cooperation between the two neighbouring countries, particularly to reinvigorate the economies of both countries which have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They will also exchange views on strengthening collaboration in areas of mutual importance, such as security, economic partnership and connectivity along the border areas, as well as cooperation within ASEAN and other multilateral frameworks. 

2. The First APEC’s Senior Officials’ Meeting and related meetings (14 – 25 Feb. 2022) 

• While the first APEC Senior Officials’s Meeting (SOM1)and related meetings are underway, two additional important areas to be highlighted this week include: Post-COVID-19 economic recovery and; Reconnecting the region. 
  • 1)  Post-COVID-19 economic recovery Thailand focuses its efforts to make APEC open to all trade and investment opportunities, with a refreshed conversation on the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) as one of the key deliverables and an outcome of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which will be hosted by Thailand in May 2022. 
  • 2) Reconnecting the region Thailand will enhance connectivity in all dimensions, and push forward the resumption of safe and seamless travel, as well as greater business mobility in the longer-term as key deliverables. The SOM1 has taken the first steps to reconnect the region safely and seamlessly. The first APEC Safe Passage Taskforce (SPTF) Meeting, chaired by Mr. Cherdchai Chaivaivid, Thailand SOM, was convened on 21 February 2022.  

• At the SPTF Meeting, Thailand presented 3 proposals namely: (1)Interoperability of Vaccination Certificates : Sharing of Technical Specifications so that COVID-19 vaccination certificates issued by APEC economies can be easily verified across the region; (2) APEC Information Portal for Safe Passage Across the Region to create a one-stop portal for information on international travel within APEC member economies; and (3) A more inclusive APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) by expanding its scope to cover a broader range of businesses and professionals. All these proposals are expected to be implemented within this year. 
• The outcomes of these sub-fora meetings will be reported and discussed in the meetings of the APEC’s core Committees under which they operate, namely Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) and Economic Committee (EC), and subsequently to the SOM Plenary Meeting on 24 – 25 February 2022, 

3. Rescue mission for Thai nationals who were lured to work in Cambodia

• From 2021 to the present date, the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh has received approximately 1,500 requests for assistance from Thai nationals who were lured to work in Cambodia. This group of Thai nationals have worked in 3 major cities of Cambodia namely: Preah Sihanouk, Phnom Penh and Poipet, Banteay Meanchey Province and now some cases expanded to Cambodia-Vietnam border area.
• As of now, the Embassy has rescued and returned about 1,200 Thai nationals to the country. However, the Embassy still received reports of many ongoing cases.
• Most of Thai victims are working age people affected by COVID-19 economic recession, and were lured by agents on social media platforms which allured them with good and easy salary. The description of this kind of illegal job is an administrator or call center attempting to deceive people to fall victim to fraudulent investment or online gambling. Workers can be sold to other illegal agencies which is considered as human-trafficking case and also can lead workers to face with intimidation or physical assault.
• The Embassy has been continously giving assistance and rescuing Thai nationals. Furtheremore, the Embassy also filed reports and coordinated with Cambodian authorities on this matter.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to strongly warn Thai nationals not to fall for any exaggerated commercial and deception regarding illegal working in Cambodia as this is considered the law violation in both countries. The person could be charged with illegal border crossing which results in 3-6 months sentence and 2,000,000 Cambodian riel (approximately 15,000 Baht) fine as the penalty.
• For further information, please contact the Department of Consular Affairs, Call center. 02-572-8442 or the Ministry of Labour.

4. Australia Government allows fully vaccinated international travelers to enter Australia without a travel exemption except Western Australia

• From 21 February 2022, all visa holders who are fully vaccinated for international travel purposes can travel to Australia without a travel exemption. Unvaccinated visa holders will still need to be in an exempt category or hold an individual travel exemption to enter Australia. This is with the exception of Western Australia  
• Current approved or recognised vaccines and dosages accepted for travel are: Two doses at least 14 days apart of: AstraZeneca Vaxzevria; AstraZeneca Covishield; Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty; Moderna Spikevax or Takeda; Sinovac Coronavac; Bharat Biotech Covaxin; Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (for people under 60 years of age on arrival in Australia); Gamaleya Research Institute Sputnik V; Novavax/Biocelect Nuvaxovid. Or one dose of: Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine.
• International travelers who wish to enter Australia need to register and submit all required document to https://dpd.homeaffairs.gov.au. 7 days prior to their enter to Australia. COVID test results should also be submitted through this website.  
• Travelers who are not fully vaccinated are subject to 14-day quarantine in government appointed facilities. Each state may have different COVID-19 measures, for more information: https://dpd.homeaffairs.gov.au

5. Updates on preparations and recommendations for Thai nationals in Ukraine 

• On 17 February 2022, the evacuation plan for Thai nationals in Ukraine is discussed in the meeting, chaired by Director-General of Consular Affairs Department, attended by the Royal Thai Embassy in Warsaw and Thai authorities concerned.
• The city “Lviv” will be set as an evacuation base for Thai nationals for 3 evacuation scenarios. Lviv is 550 Kms. or 8-9 hours from Kyiv, 800 Kms. or 11-14 hours from Odesa, and 400 Kms. or 1-2 hours from Warsaw. 
• Scenario 1 – Evacuation by a chartered flight from Lviv to Thailand. The Embassy has been coordinating with employers to facilitate gathering of Thai employees in Lviv.  If necessary, the Embassy may arrange buses either from Poland or within Ukraine, transporting Thai nationals to Lviv. This scenario is the most prioritised plan.  
• Scenario 2 – Evacuation by a chartered flight from Warsaw to Thailand, in case of Ukraine’s airspace is closed or situation in Lviv is unpredictable. The Embassy will arrange buses transporting Thai nationals to Warsaw. Custom clearance procedures at the borders will take approximately 1-2 hours.  
• Scenario 3 – Evacuation by a chartered aircraft from Thailand, if chartered flights from Lviv or Warsaw cannot be secured. Details of this scenario has been discussed and coordinated among authorities concerned.
• The Embassy has been working to ensure safety of Thai nationals in Ukraine with both Thai and local authorities. The embassy and Department of Consular Affairs announced on 13 February 2022 advising Thai nationals to refrain from unnecessary travel to Ukraine, and on 22 February 2022 informing Thai nationals to avoid travelling to Donetsk and Luhansk due to the ongoing tensions. Thai nationals in Ukraine are recommended to follow updated information on situation in Ukraine.
• The communication channels for Thais in Ukraine for updated information are as follows;
  • (1) “Royal Thai Embassy, Warsaw, Poland” and “Thais in Ukraine” Facebook group
  • (2) “Line” chat application group
  • (3) “Telegram” chat application group, and
  • (4) Hotline number (24 hours) at + 48 696 642 348 and email - [email protected]. 

Weekly Press Briefing:  https://fb.watch/blqdPIDOym/