Mrs. Arunrung Photong Humphreys, Ambassador of Thailand to Latvia, resident in Stockholm, accompanied by Miss Nattamon Punbochar, Counsellor (Consul), paid a visit to Riga, Republic of Latvia, during 6-8 May 2026 to discuss and follow up on Thailand-Latvia bilateral cooperation in the areas of politics, economy, education and people-to-people relations.

During the visit, the Ambassador met with Ms. Katarina Plātere, Director-General for Bilateral Relations Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, with the participation of Counsellor Nattamon, and Thai desk officer at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides exchanged views on ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of economy, investment, energy, and digital governance, as well as on issues of international cooperation, including Latvia’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), Thailand’s preparedness within the OECD framework, and current regional developments. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of respect for international law within the multilateral framework and for state sovereignty in the context of ongoing international conflicts.

The Ambassador also met with Mr. Marģers Krams, the new Head of State Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia. Ambassador was informed of ceremonies and activities organised by the Protocol department during the later part of this year.

On the same occasion, the Ambassador met with Professor Jānis Priede, Acting Head of the Department of Asian Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Latvia, to discuss the promotion of academic cooperation and Thai Studies. The Ambassador informed the University of a collection of books on Thailand to be donated for the establishment of a Thailand Corner within the University library. The collection covers a wide range of subjects, including Buddhism, Thai history and the monarchy, arts and culture, Thai cuisine, tourism, politics and governance, and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. The initiative aims to support teaching, research, and the wider dissemination of knowledge about Thailand among the Latvian public.

In the evening, the Ambassador met with approximately 22 Thai nationals from various professional backgrounds, including small business owners, researchers, Thai massage practitioners, and homemakers. The gathering provided a valuable opportunity to exchange views and experiences regarding life and work in Latvia, while further strengthening close ties between the Embassy and the Thai community in Latvia.