Summary of Weekly Press Briefing by

Director-General of Department of Information/Spokesperson of MFA

1 April 2025 at 11.00 hrs. at Press Conference Room and MFA FB/TikTok Live

1. Situation update on the earthquake in Myanmar on 28 March 2025, and impact on Thailand

• The earthquake in Myanmar on 28 March 2025 caused tremors to be felt as far as Bangkok and many parts of Thailand. All relevant agencies have been expediting safety inspections for buildings, and working hard to enable main thoroughfares and transportation services to resume normal operations. All rail lines in Bangkok are now back in operation, with the expressway in Din Daeng reopened to traffic and hundreds of buildings have been inspected for safety. The situation in Bangkok and areas around the country have returned to normal, in line with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s ‘BANGKOK we are OK’ campaign.
• Regarding the search and rescue operation at the State Audit Office building site in Chatuchak, the relevant authorities continue to work around-the-clock to find and rescue survivors. On 31 March 2025, the Foreign Minister visited the site to offer moral support and appreciation to the international and Thai rescue teams. Thailand has received support from international partners, especially through Search and Rescue expert teams and their advanced equipment, of which the Ministry expresses sincere gratitute for their assistance.
• While Thailand is fast returning to normalcy, Thailand stands ready to assist neighbours in even greater need, namely Myanmar.
• On 30 March 2025, the Foreign Minister attended the Special Emergency Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in the Aftermath of the Earthquake in Myanmar, via videoconference. The Meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, in the capacity of ASEAN Chair. The Meeting expressed solidarity with Thailand and Myanmar in dealing with the impacts of the earthquake and reaffirmed ASEAN’s readiness to support the urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar.
• To this end, Thailand has already begun delivering assistance to Myanmar, in particular for search and rescue missions.
• Furthermore, the Foreign Minister will also join the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, in the capacity of ASEAN Chair, on a humanitarian visit to Myanmar on 5 April 2025, to understand the impact on the ground, and discuss ways to provide further assistance.

2. Important points and arrangements regarding the 6th BIMSTEC Summit

• Thailand stands ready to host the upcoming 6th BIMSTEC Summit and Related Meetings on 2 - 4 April 2025 at the Shangri-La Bangkok as planned. Buildings, infrastructure, and other facilities, including airports, meeting venues, accommodations, and transport channels are secure, fully functional, and have not been affected by the earthquake in Myanmar.
• Thailand has presented a PRO BIMSTEC Vision as a guideline for driving the group’s cooperation as the Chair.
• Prosperous: towards economic recovery through comprehensive connectivity enhancement, poverty eradication through trade and investment promotion, as well as environmental conservation;
• Resilient: towards enhancing security, especially regional food and health security, including expanding maritime cooperation;
• Open: towards building the participation of all sectors through sustainable tourism promotion and building people-to-people networks.
• Key deliverables at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit include
  1. Adoption of the 6th Summit Declaration
  2. Adoption of BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030;
  3. Signing of an Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation;
  4. Adoption of the Rules of Procedure for BIMSTEC Mechanisms; 
  5. Adoption of the Report of the Eminent Persons Group on Future Direction of BIMSTEC; 
  6. Signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between BIMSTEC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA); and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
• BIMSTEC advances cooperation in 7 specific areas, with each member State designated as the Lead:
  1. Connectivity –led by Thailand
  2. Trade, Investment & Development and Blue Economy –led by Bangladesh
  3. Environment & Climate Change and Mountain Economy –led by Bhutan
  4. Security, Energy, and Disaster Management –led by India
  5. Agriculture & Food Security and Fisheries & Livestock –led by Myanmar
  6. People-to-People Contact and Poverty Alleviation –led by Nepal
  7. Science, Technology & Innovation, Health and Human Resource Development –led by Sri Lanka
• Under each cooperation area, discussions have touched on the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, establishments of centers, working groups, eminent persons’ groups, action plans, discussion mechanisms in different levels, agreements, as well as organizing business forum events, activities with outside partners, and conventions entered into force to actively enhance progress.
• This BIMSTEC Summit is the first summit under the current administration and has received significant interest from the media, both Thai and foreign press. The Ministry invites the public to jointly be host of the meeting and welcoming guests to Thailand during 2 - 4 April 2025.

3. Official visits to Thailand by Prime Minister of Nepal and Prime Minister of India on during the BIMSTEC Summit

• During the BIMSTEC Summit, Thailand will also host official visits by two BIMSTEC Leaders as follows: 
• The Right Honourable Mr. K P Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal, will pay an official visit to Thailand at the invitation of the Prime Minister during 1 - 5 April 2025 to discuss bilaterally and witness the signing of various Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding. This historic visit represents the first Official Visit by the Prime Minister of Nepal to Thailand since the establishment of the Thailand - Nepal diplomatic ties in 1959. This will provide an opportunity for both sides to engage in comprehensive discussions to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors, particularly in trade and investment, agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and service industry.
• H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, will pay an official visit to Thailand at the invitation of the Prime Minister between 3 - 4 April 2025. Both sides will elevate Thailand - India relations to Strategic Partnership and witness the signing of various agreements. This visit will be Prime Minister Modi’s first official visit to Thailand and marks the first visit by an Indian leader in 12 years. They will also discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in various areas, such as political and defense cooperation, trade and investment, connectivity, science, technology and innovation including space technology in which India excels.

Watch the full session at: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16Nx2mBFWu/?mibextid=wwXIfr