Summary of the Weekly Press Briefing
By Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy MFA Spokesperson
on 30 January 2026 at 10:30 hrs.
MFA Press Conference Room

1. Summary of the Participation of the Foreign Minister at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos

• On 20 - 22 January 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with the Thai delegation, attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
• The Foreign Minister’s main mission consisted of two key objectives: (1) to enhance opportunities for the Thai private sector and the people in general through connecting the Thai private sector with global business networks and attracting investment in new industries; and (2) to strengthen confidence in Thailand by reaffirming the continuity of Thailand’s economic policies, which open to investment and its adherence to a free trade system, as well as highlighting concrete cooperation with the WEF in areas that are Thailand’s strengths and that demonstrate Thailand’s leading role.
• Highlight activities were the Foreign Minister’s participation in meetings to advance international cooperation to address problems that have serious consequences for the global economy, such as cybercrime, human trafficking and forced labor.
• On the sidelines of the WEF meetings, the Foreign Minister met with high-level representatives from the government sector and heads of international organizations, such as the Vice President and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation; the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Korea; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The purpose was to open up trade and investment opportunities for Thailand by attracting foreign investment, especially in emerging markets and industries such as digital and artificial intelligence (AI), within the framework of the Thailand-Africa Initiative (TAI), and to promote Thailand’s OECD membership.
• In addition, he also met with senior executives from the private sector, civil society and leading global media outlets such as DP World, CNBC and Euronews to not only promote cooperation but also to exchange Thailand’s perspectives on the global geopolitical situation, regional issues, and Thailand’s stance on various issues.

2. Outcomes of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Retreat in Cebu, the Philippines

• On 28 - 29 January 2026, the Foreign Minister participated in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (AMM Retreat) in Cebu, the Philippines. The AMM Retreat marks the first ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the year under the Philippines’ Chairship and is held under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.”
• The AMM Retreat expressed ASEAN’s readiness in supporting the ASEAN Chair’s priorities this year, with a focus on strengthening ASEAN cooperation to address shared challenges. These include: (1) accelerating negotiations on the ASEAN - Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA) and expediting the signing of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) within this year; (2) promoting the green transition and enhancing regional energy connectivity; (3) strengthening climate security through the application of artificial intelligence (AI); and (4) enhancing preparedness to respond to emerging disasters in the future.
• On this occasion, the Foreign Minister also participated in the Extended Informal Consultation (EIC) on Myanmar, during which the Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus under the Chairship of the Philippines. He raised key issues, particularly developments in Myanmar following the elections, approaches to advancing the Five-Point Consensus, and underscored the importance of humanitarian assistance, opening up space for dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, as well as ensuring the continuity of the Special Envoy mechanism.
• On the sidelines of the AMM Retreat, the Foreign Minister held bilateral discussions with ASEAN Member States, such as Viet Nam, the Philippines, Brunei, the Lao PDR and Singapore, to exchange views on strengthening relations and cooperation across all dimensions, including high-level exchanges, political cooperation, trade and investment, and other issues of common interest.
• Discussions include developments in Myanmar following the elections, cooperation in combating online scams, and the Thailand - Cambodia border situation. The Foreign Minister also stressed the importance of ASEAN’s role in promoting peace, stability and practical cooperation in the region.

3. Developments on the Thailand-Cambodia border situation

3.1 Implementation of the Joint Statement between Thailand and Cambodia

• Thailand has strictly abided by the Joint Statement. Last week, the Secretariat of the General Border Committee (GBC) of the Thai side sent a letter to the Cambodian GBC Secretariat informing the latter that Thailand has established the “Joint Information Center on the Thailand-Cambodia situation (JIC).”
• Its objectives are to provide accurate information to the public and coordinate with the Cambodian side to effectively prevent and manage misinformation and disinformation and promote an accurate understanding of the developments, with a view to strengthening mutual trust and contributing to the de-escalation of tensions. This action was taken in accordance with paragraph 16 of the Joint Statement. In this regard, the Thai side has already designated a focal point under the JIC mechanism, and requested the Cambodian side to also designate the corresponding focal point at its earliest convenience. This will help promote transparency and constructive dialogue between the two sides.
• On 20 and 26 January 2026, the delegation of the Joint Information Center conducted a field visit to Chong An Ma, Ubon Ratchathani and the Ban Nong Chan area, Sa Kaeo Province, respectively, to gather first-hand information and observe the situation on the ground.
• On 4–5 February, the Foreign Minister will lead a delegation to Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket provinces to hear the views of the local communities and the private sector in the area. It is important that any consideration on how Thailand proceeds with relations with Cambodia must take into account the views of the people. The delegation will also visit soldiers injured in the fighting. The ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) delegation will also be invited to join as observers.
• However, it is regrettable that distorted information continues to be disseminated and baseless stories continue to be fabricated, which does not help to de-escalate tensions. One recent example was a report in Cambodian media about an interview with a former Cambodian diplomat based in Thailand, alleging that the Thai side obstructed the AOT's performance of its duties by denying visas to some AOT members.
• Thailand categorically rejects such false information. In fact, Thailand has worked closely with the AOT and has continuously discussed with them ways to enhance the effectiveness of its work, both in terms of personnel and operational modalities. Thailand has also facilitated field visits by the AOT on a regular basis, including participation as observers in a total of 21 meetings between Thailand and Cambodia under various bilateral mechanisms. All of this is to ensure that the objectives of establishing the AOT, as stipulated in the agreement, are fully upheld, while also preventing the AOT from being exploited for purposes inconsistent with its mandate, as has been the case with the actions of certain parties.
• The dissemination of such false information reflects an intention to create misunderstanding and to undermine Thailand’s image in the eyes of the international community, which clearly contravenes the spirit of the Joint Statement. In this respect, Thailand calls upon all parties in Cambodia to cease the dissemination of distorted information and provocative actions that undermine efforts of both sides to seek a peaceful resolution.

3.2 The Field Visit of the Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

• On 20 - 23 January 2026, the Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Bangkok was granted access by Thai authorities to three provinces affected by the Thailand-Cambodia border situation; namely Sa Kaeo, Buri Ram and Si Sa Ket. The purpose of the visit was to collect information on damage resulting from hostilities, particularly affecting civilians and civilian facilities, as well as the humanitarian impact on local communities.
• During the visit, the ICRC delegation received briefings and held exchanges with the relevant government agencies regarding the sequence of events, related operations, and the impacts of the hostilities. The delegation subsequently conducted field visits to survey and collect information on damage to civilian properties and to interview affected civilians and eyewitnesses.
• This visit marked the second time that the ICRC was granted access to affected provinces. Relevant agencies have extended their full support and cooperation to the ICRC, which reflects Thailand’s transparency and commitment to respecting and complying with international humanitarian law.

3.3 The Regional Border Committee (RBC) Meetings

• Following the ceasefire on 27 December 2025, both sides have maintained the communication channels as stipulated in the Joint Statement. Two meetings of the Regional Border Committee (RBC) have been convened. This demonstrates that bilateral mechanisms have gradually resumed their functioning.
• The two RBC meetings mentioned earlier took place as follows: the first one was informally held on 15 January 2026 between Thailand’s 2nd Army Area and Cambodia’s 4th Military Region at the Chong Sa Ngam Permanent Border Crossing Point in Si Sa Ket Province. The second one was convened from 27 - 29 January 2026 between Thailand’s 1st Army Area and Cambodia’s 5th Military Region at the Poi Pet Permanent Border Crossing Point in Sa Kaeo Province, with the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) in attendance as observers.
• As for the second meeting, both sides discussed ways to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace along the border in accordance with the Joint Statement. However, the two sides had not yet signed the Agreed Minutes. They will continue discussions on the remaining differences, with a view to jointly finalizing the Agreed Minutes in due course.
• Although both sides could not reach an agreement, and it is not necessary for every round of negotiations to conclude with a concurrence on every issue, as some matters are complex and require time, the fact that the meeting itself took place is already a positive development. It reflects that military authorities on the ground have continued to meet regularly to coordinate their positions and seek compromise and mutually acceptable solutions.
• There will be 2 additional RBC meetings next week between Thailand’s 2nd Army Area and the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defense Command with their Cambodian counterparts, while the AOT delegation will also be invited to observe the meetings. The Thai side hopes that these positive developments will help reduce tensions and build mutual trust and confidence between the two countries. One critical element at this juncture is the sincerity of the Cambodian side in implementing the Joint Statement in good faith, thereby paving the way for the restoration of our bilateral relations.

Watch the full session at: https://fb.watch/EY996kw92j/