Summary of Weekly Press Briefing

Friday 27 October 2023 at 11.00 hrs.

Press Conference Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MFA FB Live

1. PM to visit Lao PDR (30 Oct 23)

• PM Srettha Thavisin will pay an official visit to the Lao PDR on 30 October 2023 at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, PM of Lao PDR to further strengthen the bilateral relations and close cooperation as well as emphasize the Strategic Partnership for Growth and Sustainable Development between Thailand and Lao PDR.
• PM will meet with the PM of Lao PDR. He will also pay a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, President of Lao PDR and the General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, and meet with H.E. Mr. Xaysompone Phomvihane, President of the National Assembly of Lao PDR.
• The two leaders will preside over the opening ceremony of the Vientiane Train Station (Khamsavath). The train station is a cooperation project between the two governments through the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA).
• DPM/FM will also join the trip. His schedule included a meeting with DPM/FM Saleumxay Kommasith of the Lao PDR to follow up on bilateral and regional issues as discussed by their leaders earlier in the morning, as well as economic cooperation, connectivity, and the upcoming ASEAN Chairmanship of Lao PDR. DPM/FM will also visit the Vientiane Logistics Park and meet with Thai investors in the country to discuss bilateral trade and investment opportunities.

2. DPM/FM’s official visit to Viet Nam and Thailand’s role at the OECD Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum in Hanoi (25 - 26 Oct 2023)

• DPM/FM visited Viet Nam at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, marking the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between Thailand and Viet Nam this year.
• On 25 Oct 2023, DPM/FM attended the following events: (1) A courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Viet Nam to underscore the close cooperation in the areas of economy, commerce, investment and tourism; (2) A discussion with H.E. Mr. Le Hoai Trung, Chairman of the External Relations Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam, about the strategic partnership between Thailand and Viet Nam; (3) A meeting with Thai investors in Viet Nam to exchange views on bilateral trade and investment opportunities; and (4) A celebratory ceremony of the relaunch of the Thai Airways’ direct flight Bangkok-Hanoi/Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh City starting from 29 Oct 2023 onwards. 
• On 26 October 2023, DPM/FM also met with H.E. Mr. Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam to make preparation for the elevation of their bilateral relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and for Viet Nam to host Thailand – Viet Nam Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR) in 2024. Both sides also discussed cooperation in all dimensions, ranging from security, economy, trade, investment, tourism, to people interactions. DPM/FM also invited his counterpart to visit Thailand in the future.

3. Outcomes of the OECD Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum 2023 in Hanoi

• VFM Sihasak Puangketkaew attended the OECD Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum 2023 in Hanoi, Viet Nam. On this occasion, VFM led the Ministerial Discussion on “Global Investment Trends: New Potential for Sustainable and Quality Investment in Southeast Asia.”
• VFM also met with H.E. Mr. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the OECD, to discuss the role of Thailand in strengthening cooperation between the OECD and Southeast Asia, ways to build on and step up Thailand - OECD cooperation as well as Thailand’s OECD membership in the future.
• The OECD is an international organization with 38 Members and partners across regions around the globe. Thailand is currently implementing the OECD-Thailand Country Programme Phase 2, focusing on the areas of doing business, investment, sustainability, transparency, good governance, competition policy, as well as human resource development through education, science, technology and innovation policy.
• Thailand is also preparing for membership to the OECD in the future.

4. Updates on the situation in Israel and repatriation of Thai nationals

• MFA, as well as other relevant agencies, holds a daily meeting of the Rapid Response Center, with DFM Jakkapong Sangmanee as the Chair. This afternoon’s session will also be joined virtually by PM.
• Air strikes continued in the Gaza Strip, the Lebanon-Israel border, and the West Bank.
• Statistics regarding Thai nationals
  • Death toll: 33
  • Number of injuries: 18, with 5 currently receiving medical treatments.
  • Number of abductions: 18
  • Following the news circulated by a foreign media outlet that the number of Thai nationals taken hostages increased to 54, MFA has reached out to the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok, and the RTE in Tel Aviv contacted the Israeli MFA to verify the number. The Israeli authorities denied the figures and confirmed that the number of abductions of Thai nationals still remains at 18.
• Evacuation Progress  
  • The RTE, Tel Aviv, has sent the bodies of 15 deceased Thai workers back to Thailand.
  • As of the morning of 27 Oct 2023, a total of 23 flights have evacuated 4,771 Thai nationals from Israel. Thai nationals who took commercial flights back to Thailand may apply for compensations for their travel expenses at their nearest Provincial Labour Offices.
  • A total of 40 Thai students who studied at Arava International Center for Agriculture Training (AICAT) have returned to Thailand, while 75 wish to remain in Israel.
  • The Thai authorities have been asking Thai workers in Israel to return to Thailand on the evacuation flights for their own safety.

5. The rescue of Thai nationals lured into working in Laukkaing, Myanmar

• The RTE in Yangon has continuously and closely coordinated with the Myanmar authorities to repatriate Thai nationals to Thailand and rescue the rest in Laukkaing.
• Status of Thai nationals:
• The number of Thai nationals lured into Laukkaing: 219
• The number of Thai nationals saved by Myanmar authorities: 153
  • 120 are under the care of Myanmar authorities.
  • 22 are staying at hotels and waiting to be picked up by the authorities.
  • 11 are at police stations.
  • The status of 71 more Thai nationals has yet to be verified.
• The Embassy also has information about 107 Thai nationals being lured into Hpyan, not far from Laukkaing.
• Myanmar authorities have been rescuing a large number of people with different nationalities.
• The Embassy and the Department of Consular Affairs have published infographics on their social media platforms warning Thai nationals against online scammers and illegal job offers.
• Contacts:
  • The RTE, Yangon:
    • Emergency number: +95 9880916795 and +95 9797002801
  • Department of Consular Affairs: 02 575 1019 / 02 575 1051 / 02 575 1047-49

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Press Division

27 October 2023