Summary of Weekly Press Briefing

Friday, 16 September 2022 at 13:30 hours

Press Conference Room, MFA and via MFA Facebook Live

1. The 77^th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA77) (19 – 27 Sep 2022)

• DPM/FM will lead the Thai delegation at UNGA77 and side events in New York.
• In his remarks for the General Debate under the theme “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges,” DPM/FM will ask the int’l community to (1) best utilise current resources, especially the youth, (2) re-prioritise the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and (3) overcome int’l polarisation to strengthen the multilateral systems.
• DPM/FM will also participate in the opening ceremony of “The Investment in health systems for Universal Health Coverage (UHC)”; an ASEAN side event on “Regional Pathways to the Global Goals: ASEAN’s Approach towards SDGs Implementation and Sustainable post-COVID-19 Recovery”; ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat; a discussion with the executives of US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and US Chamber of Commerce (USCC); and bilat meetings with FMs from over 10 countries and UNSG.

2. Thailand Donates Humanitarian Assistance to Pakistan (14 Sep 22)

• VFM Vijavat presided over the handover ceremony of cash donations for flood relief in Pakistan, received by Mr. Yasir Hussain, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Thailand.
• In addition to MFA’s financial assistance of 7 million baht, donations of 14 million baht were also made by Thai civil society organisations, namely the Council for Humanitarian Networking of Sheikhul Islam Office, Al-Slam Institute of the Fatoni University, Thai – Pakistani Friendship Association, Muslim for Peace Foundation, White News Channel, Overseas Pakistanis Thai Association, Jai Ngam Foundation, and the Foundation of Islamic Centre of Thailand.
• These donations aimed to alleviate the resulted countless loss of lives and properties in Pakistan and also highlighted Thailand’s active humanitarian role.

3. VFM presided over the Global South-South Development (GSSD) Expo 2022 (12 – 14 Sep 2022)

• Thailand hosted the GSSD Expo 2022 under the theme “Advancing South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable COVID-19 Recovery: Towards a Smart and Resilient Future” at the UN Conference Centre.
• VFM delivered opening remarks, highlighting Thailand’s role in fostering global cooperation to tackle COVID-19 through South-South cooperation in SDGs and socio-economic recovery.
• On 12 Sep 2022, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, DG of TICA, participated in a roundtable seminar on “Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) for SDGs by Thailand,” sharing the Kingdom’s experiences and practices through Thailand-Bhutan agricultural cooperation.
• On 13 – 14 Sep 2022, seminars were held on cooperation in socio-economic development, education, technology, poverty eradication, as well as food and energy security. The “Youth4South Entrepreneurship Competition” was also organised to promote youth and public engagement in advancing SDGs through business innovation. The awards ceremony took place during the GSSD Expo 2022 Networking Night at Vithes Samosorn, MFA.

4. The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting (8-9 Sep 2022)

• Pornpimol, Advisor to FM and Special Envoy of the DPM/FM, attended the IPEF Ministerial Meeting, Los Angeles, hosted by USTR and SECCOM.
• The Meeting was the first in-person Ministerial Meeting after the launch of IPEF on 23 May 2022 in Tokyo.
• Attendees included the Ministers and high-level representatives from other IPEF partner countries, namely Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.
• The Thai delegation comprised DPS Chulamanee as Thailand’s Senior Official Leader, and representatives of relevant agencies, namely MOC, MOI, MNRE, and MOF.
• The Meeting discussed ways to drive forward IPEF cooperation and announced 4 Ministerial Statements on trade, supply chain, clean energy/decarbonisation/infrastructure, and tax and anti-corruption. The Statements will guide IPEF partner countries toward concrete cooperation for sustainable and inclusive growth in the region, which will be further discussed in more detail.
• The Special Envoy reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment and readiness to work closely with other partner countries to steer IPEF cooperation toward tangible benefits for the people and highlighted Thailand’s APEC2022 Host as well as the complementarities between IPEF and APEC in pursuit of sustainable economic growth in the region, particularly as the U.S. will host APEC2023.
• The Special Envoy attended the launch event of IPEF Upskilling Initiative, which would provide more than 7 million education and training opportunities, using digital tools, for women and girls in 8 IPEF economies, namely Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand until 2032. The training opportunities will be provided by 14 leading U.S. companies. This initiative is the first concrete project under IPEF toward tangible outcomes for people in the region.

5. The Thailand-European Union Framework Agreement for Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) (2 Sep 2022)

• DPS Chulamanee and Mrs. Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia-Pacific, EEAS, initialed PCA, concluding the decades-long negotiation.
• PCA will serve as a roadmap for Thailand-EU cooperation in various areas, such as security, justice, trade and investment, connectivity, climate action, public health, labour rights, agriculture, fishery, human rights, communication, as well as science and technology.
• The PCA negotiation involves MFA and over 50 agencies concerned of Thailand.
• MFA will organise a seminar to provide PCA stakeholders with necessary information before submitting to the Cabinet and the Parliament. The official signing of the Agreement will take place on the margins of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Brussels in Dec 2022.

6. Bangkok Express Service at Temporary Passport Office, Pathumwan (9 Sep 2022)

• Consular Affairs Dept. and MBK Centre opened a Bangkok Express Service at the Temporary Passport Office, Pathumwan, MBK Centre to provide one-stop passport and legalisation services to the public.
• The Pathumwan Office, the first Temporary Office to offer kiosk service, has operated on Saturday since Apr/2022 and will be open on Sunday from 1 Oct/2022 onwards. There has also been an increase in number of applicants to approximately 1,800 users per day.
• For online reservations, please visit:
  • Passport: https://www.qpassport.in.th
  • Legalisation service: https://qlegal.consular.go.th/

 7. MFA Muay Thai Flash Mob Dance II (10 Sep 2022)

• Info Dept., MFA and ICONSIAM co-organised Muay Thai Flash Mob Dance II and Muay Thai Training Workshop at River Park, ICONSIAM, to encourage public engagement in promoting and raising int’l awareness of Muay Thai. The activity was joined by DPM/FM, MFA executives and officers, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Diplomatic Corps, Thai and int’l media, tourists and the public.
• This activity is part of MFA’s efforts to promote Muay Thai as an elegant martial art and a sport for all. The Gov’t also aims to introduce Muay Thai to the Olympic Games and other major int’l sports competitions.
• The event began with the “Wai Kru” Dance, in which Muay Thai boxers showed respect to teachers, parents and ancestors before the actual fight, followed by the Flash Mob Dance with the song “Muay Thai All Around the World,” joined by 4MIX, Dom Petchthamrongchai (Dome The FACE), Fluke Pongsapat Kankam (Channel 3 actor), and young dancers.
• ​This activity is part of MFA’s Muay Thai teaching VDO clips project to promote understanding about Muay Thai and teach Muay Thai to both Thais and foreigners around the world. The clips featured Kru Din, several Muay Thai boxers including Taew Sudaporn Seesondee, I-Oon Patchayaporn Kasom, Non Sangsuriyachok, Rittewada Petchyindee Academy, Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Tawanchai PK Saenchai Muay Thai Gym, as well as Thai celebrities including Power Pat, Dom Petchthamrongchai, Fluke Pongsapat Kankam and Rusameekae Fagerlund. There are 21 teaching VDO clips (available in both Thai and English) on the “MFA Muay Thai” YouTube channel.
• RTEs/RTCGs invited Thai communities, Muay Thai circles, foreigners and young generations to join dance exercises with the song “Muay Thai All Around the World.” These included Sweden, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Mexico City and Dakar.
• The recording of MFA Muay Thai Flash Mob II is available on MFA’s FB page. For more footages from the RTEs/RTCGs, please visit https://qr.page/g/4HAuL3UZTXz.

Weekly Press Briefing: https://fb.watch/fzUBLl1pEq/

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Press Division
Department of Information