Summary of Weekly Press Briefing

Thursday 6 July 2023, at 11.00 hrs., Press Conference Room, MFA

 1. Nominations for the Public Diplomacy Awards 2023

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) wishes to remind that Monday 31 July 2023 is the deadline for nominations of individuals, groups, and organizations – Thai and non-Thai, for this year’s Public Diplomacy Awards (PDA). Those submitting on behalf of others must have obtained the consent of the individual/organization nominated prior to the application.
• PDA is bestowed upon laureates whose charitable works in areas such as humanitarian affairs, sports, culture and innovation,contributed to the promotion and projection of Thailand’s public image to the world, resulting in greater awareness and popularity of the Thai culture.
• With up to three laureates annually, each of them are expected to receive a trophy – with his/her/their name inscribed upon; cash prize of 300,000 THB, and a plaque - also with the name inscription – to be put on display on the premises of the MFA.
• Once the nomination ends, a sub-committee consisting of 9 representatives of the MFA, the Thailand Foundation, as well as experts from the academia, civil societies and the media, will review the applications and shortlist prospective candidates for the consideration of the Board of the Thailand Foundation. The list of laureate(s) will then be announced to the public in September 2023.
• The first iteration of PDA was bestowed last year upon Dr. Soontorn Antarasena, a senior otolaryngologist whose volunteer Ear Surgery Mobile Unit provided free treatments to patients in Thailand’s neighboring countries for over three decades, expressing acts of goodwill and friendship far and wide.
• Further queries on PDA should be directed to the Thailand Foundation via telephone number +66 2 203 5000 ext. 11031 or email: [email protected]

2. Facilitation for the Hajj pilgrims in 2023 by the Thai authorities

• Each year, Muslims from around the world travel to holy sites in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, the most important religious duty for those following the Islamic faith. As for this year (Hijri 1444), more than 1.8 million pilgrims, with 1.6 from overseas, visited the country for this undertaking – with the most important part of the Hajj already took place during
  26 June – 1 July 2023.
• For 2023, the Saudi authorities allocated for Thailand the quota of 13,000 pilgrims (with 11,497 individuals formally regisetered). These pilgrims made their journey to Saudi Arabia from Hat Yai Airport, Narathiwas Airport, and Suvarnabhumi Airport – with flights departing during two periods: (1) 21 May – 1 June 2023; and (2) 19 – 23 June 2023).
• The Thai authorities dispatched a delegation consisting 130 officials to help facilitate Thai pilgrims. Headed by Mr. Zakee Pitakumpol, Senator, the delegation comprised representsatives from the Sheikhul Islam Office, Commission on the Promotion of Hajj Affairs, experts in the Arabic language, Central Islamic Council of Thailand, Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), and a team of medical officers from the Ministry of Public Health.
• The MFA, along with related parties, have been closely collaborated with the Saudi side to ensure the smooth arrangement of the Hajj. The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, the Royal Thai Embassy in Riyadh, and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Jeddah have been all involved. The latter served as the focal point in facilitating the pilgrims in Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina.
• In preparation for the mission, on 19 June 2023, Mr. Pornpoth Penpas, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, together with Mr. Kitinai Nutakul, Consul-General of Jeddah, co-chaired a preparatory meeting with related officials in Jeddah and discussed certain challenges including immigration problems and return flights from Saudi Arabia to Thailand.
• The total of 11 Thai pilgrims passed away due to illnesses during the Hajj, with 3,500 patients sought medical care in Saudi Arabia. It should be noted that more than 50% of the patients showed symptoms of lungs and other respiratory diseases, many are considered elderly.

3. 56^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings (56th AMM PMC) with Ms. Usana Berananda, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs)

• The 56^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings (56^th AMM PMC), to be held next week in Jakarta, Indonesia is one of the annual meetings for Foreign Ministers to follow-up on the outcomes and discussions of ASEAN leaders earlier this year.
• Overview:
  • Participation: The total of 29 countries will attend the AMM PMC. DPM/FM Don Pramudwinai is expected to participate in 17 meetings.

• Important meetings/discussions:.

• 11 July 2023
  • Meeting of the Commission of the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Commission)
  • ASEAN Foreign ministers Interface Meeting with ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) representatives
  • 56^th ASEAN Foreign Minsters’ Meeting (Plenary Session)
• 12 July 2023
  • 56^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (Retreat Session)
  • Signing Ceremony of the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
    in Southeast Asia (TAC)
• 13 July 2023
  • ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with Japan – DPM/FM will chair this meeting as Thailand is currenty ASEAN’s country coordinator with Japan.
  • ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with the Republic of Korea – Thailand will become ASEAN’s country coordinator with ROK in 2024.
• 14 July 2023
  • Courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia
  • 13^th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
  • 30^th ASEAN Regional Forum
• Bilateral meetings: At this stage, DPM/FM is expected to have bilateral discussions with delegations of Brunei Darussalam, Timor-Leste, Norway and Pakistan

• Important issues to be discussed

• Strengthening ASEAN’s capacity and institutional effectiveness, including the regional architecture to better respond to the current geopolitcal dynamics.
• Situation in Myanmar and the Five-Point Consensus, including the humanitarian assistance for Myanmar following Cyclone Mocha.

• Outcome documents: At present, there are 10 draft documents under the consideration of the Thai cabinet, with important ones include (1) Joint Communiqué of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting; (2) ASEAN Regional Forum Statement on the Commemoration of 30 Years of the ASEAN Regional Forum; and (3) Joint Statement on the Reflection of the 20 Years of the People’s Republic of China’s Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). A total of 12 documents are expected to be signed during the 56^th AMM Meetings.

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Press Division
Department of Information