Summary of Weekly Press Briefing
by Director-General of Department of Information/Spokesperson of MFA
Friday, 6 December 2024 at 10.00 hrs.
Press Conference Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MFA FB/ Tiktok Live

1. The Foreign Minister’s Official Visit to Australia & New Zealand

• On 9 - 12 December 2024, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will undertake an official visit to Australia to co-chair the biennial Foreign Ministers’ meeting between Thailand and Australia, and on 12 - 15 December 2024, he will pay an official visit to New Zealand and will co-chair a foreign ministerial level meeting between Thailand and New Zealand.
• In Australia, the Foreign Minister and Senator the Honorable Penny Wong, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, will co-chair the 2nd ministerial meeting, established pursuant to the Joint Plan of Action to Implement the Thailand-Australia Strategic Partnership 2022 - 2025 to be organised biannually. Australia will host the meeting on 11 December 2024 in Adelaide, which will provide a platform to advance bilateral cooperation in a comprehensive and tangible manner, especially in the areas of combatting transnational crime, trade and investment, agriculture and education.
• During the visit, the Foreign Minister will also meet with the Governor of South Australia, the Premier of South Australia, Minister for Industry and Trade of New South Wales, and representatives of leading Australian companies, to explore further opportunities for cooperation and investment.
• In New Zealand, the Foreign Minister and the Right Honorable Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand will co-chair a foreign minister level meeting, estalished as a mechanism that was one of the outcomes of the official visit to Thailand of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand in October 2024 with an aim to promote exchange of high-level visits and discussions. New Zealand will host this first bilateral meeting on 13 December 2024 in Auckland, which will be a good opportunity to further bilateral relations and follow up on progress of the plan to elevate our relationship to a strategic partnership by 2026.
• During the visit, the Foreign Minister is scheduled to meet with the Minister for Trade of New Zealand and the private sector of New Zealand to seek ways to further promote economic cooperation, trade and investment.
• In addition, the Foreign Minister will also meet with Thai communities in Sydney, Auckland and Wellington.

2. Developments in the case of 4 Thai fishermen detained by the Myanmar Navy

• In the evening of 5 December 2024, the Myanmar officials sent four Thai nationals who were arrested by the Myanmar Navy to Kawthaung.
• The Foreign Minister instructed representatives from the Consular Department to travel to the border and prepare to receive the four Thai nationals back to the country. They are currently waiting at the border checkpoint area of Ranong Province.
• At this moment, the Thai Township Border Committee (TBC) is coordinating with representatives of the Myanmar TBC on the relevant measures required to send the four crew members back to Thailand, and aims to finalize this process as soon as possible.

3. Inscription of “Tomyum Kung” on the Representative List of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

• On 3 December 2024, the 19th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICS-ICH) in Asunción, Paraguay, inscribed “Tomyum Kung” on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (RL) under the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage or the 2003 UNESCO Convention.
• The inscription of “Tomyum Kung” in the said RL marks another proud moment for Thailand and will significantly enhance international recognition of the values and importance of “Tomyum Kung” as centuries-old culinary wisdom of the riverside communities in the Central Plains of Thailand. It embodies a food culture rooted in observing and learning from nature, reflecting a way of life that is simple, self-sufficient and deeply connected to nature, while offering numerous health benefits.
• In addition, on 4 December 2024, the ICS-ICH also approved the decision to register “Kebaya” in the list, which is a joint registration between Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore. Kebaya is a traditional female shirt worn in Southeast Asia, which is part of the Baba-Peranakan dress in Southeast Asia, worn especially in Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and southern Thailand.
• To date, Thailand has six inscriptions on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: Khon Masked Dance Drama (2018), Nuad Thai (2019), Nora Dance Drama (2021), Songkran in Thailand, the traditional Thai New Year festival (2023), Tomyum Kung (2024) and Kebaya: knowledge, skills, traditions and practices (2024 – with Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore).

4. Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award 2024 (TPDA2024) Presentation Ceremony

• In the evening of 6 December 2024, the Thailand Foundation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award 2024 Presentation Ceremony at Vithes Samosorn.
• The objectives of the Award are to (1) honour individuals, groups, or organizations, who have significantly enhanced the reputation, prestige and positive image of Thailand, the Thai people, and Thainess on the international level; (2) inspire these recipients to continue their valuable contributions; and (3) raise public awareness, that anyone can play a role in advancing Thailand’s public diplomacy.
• For this year, the Board of the Thailand Foundation has made the decision to present the Award to the Venerable Phra Phrompacharayanmuni or Ajahn Jayasar, Mr. Somtow Sucharitkul, and The Siam Society under Royal Patronage, making a total of three awards.
• Highlight of recipients’ outstanding contributions and achievements:
• (1) Ajahn Jayasaro is a British-born monk who first developed an interest in Buddhism during his youth. For over 40 years under monastic life, Ajahn Jayasaro has undertaken numerous initiatives to promote Buddhism to both Thais and foreigners, in Thailand and abroad, through Dhamma teachings, meditation retreats and over 100 authored books on Thai Theravada Buddhism.
• (2) Mr. Somtow Sucharitkul, with a half-century career that includes music, film and literature, was honored in 2022 with the title of National Artist in the field of music and contemporary composition, in recognition of his efforts to present and promote Thai culture and art internationally.
• (3) The Siam Society under Royal Patronage has been one of the leading institutions preserving and promoting Thai cultural heritage over the past 120 years, and represents a depository for the collection and dissemination of knowledge in the fields of the arts, culture, sociology, anthropology and the history of Thailand and Southeast Asia, serving as a bridge for people-to-people relationships across cultures and institutions. Its published research and writings have been widely cited in international academic circles.
• All interested members of the media are invited to attend the event and promote the recipients of the award among the wider public, which would emphasise that everyone is able to take part in advancing Thailand’s public diplomacy.

5. Inspection of the living conditions of 2 Thai elephants in Sri Lanka

• In accordance with the Cabinet’s instruction, issued on 16 Jul 2024, requesting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inspect the living conditions of 2 Thai elephants that were gifted to Sri Lanka, namely Plai Pratun Pha in Kandy and Plai Si Narong in Ratnapura, on 12 - 16 August 2024, a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Thai Elephant Conservation Center Lampang travelled to Sri Lanka to discuss with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and to inspect the living conditions of the said 2 They are in good health and well cared for.
• The Sri Lankan side reiterated commitment to taking care of the Thai elephants in line with the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare principle. Both sides agreed to exchange knowledge and best practices on how to properly take care of and adhere to the non-commercial use of the elephants.
• After the visit, the Thai side will arrange for veterinarians to monitor and inspect the Thai elephants in Sri Lanka periodically, and propose recommendations to the Sri Lankan side on how to take care of the Thai elephants and make regular assessments, so as to promote constructive cooperation between Thai and Sri Lankan experts on this matter.

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