Summary of the Weekly Press Briefing

by the Director-General of the Department of Information and MFA Spokesperson

on 4 December 2025 at 11:00 hrs.

MFA Press Conference Room and MFA FB LIVE / TikTok LIVE

1. Outcomes of the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ visit to the Republic of India

• On 29 November - 2 December 2025, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid a visit to India to promote Thailand - India bilateral relations and discuss issues of mutual benefit to the people of both countries, especially Thailand’s current national agenda, cooperation against transnational crimes, including online scams.
  
  
• The Foreign Minister had bilateral meetings with the Foreign Minister of India and the National Security Advisor of India. They discussed ways to expand cooperation under their Strategic Partnership on trade, investment, connectivity, startups, science, technology, innovation and space, as well as joint efforts to combat online scams. The Foreign Minister invited India to join the International Conference on Global Partnerships to Combat Online Scams, which Thailand will host during 17 - 18 December 2025 in Bangkok.
  
  
• Both sides discussed foreign policy under the current geopolitical challenges. Thailand reiterated its readiness to cooperate with India in various multilateral frameworks to strengthen regional integration. They also exchanged views on strategic issues of common interest in the region, especially the promotion of peace in Myanmar and the peaceful resolution of the border situation between Thailand and Cambodia, while encouraging Cambodia to cooperate with Thailand on demining along the border.
  
  
• The Foreign Minister also met with academics from various Indian think tanks. He underscored the complementarity of Thai and Indian foreign policies, connectivity between South Asia and Southeast Asia with Thailand and India as key players, as well as collective efforts to address emerging threats and situations in the region. He also gave interviews to 4 Indian and Thai media outlets.

2. Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit Geneva during the 22nd Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

• On 4 - 6 December 2025, the Foreign Minister is leading the Thai delegation to attend the 22nd Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention) in Geneva. The key objective is to present and clarify the facts and Thailand’s position on Cambodia’s use of landmines against Thailand, as well as the overall Thai - Cambodian border situation.
  
  
• On 5 December 2025 (tomorrow), the Foreign Minister will deliver a statement under Agenda Item 8 (Article 8) of the Convention to reaffirm Thailand’s commitment to its obligations under the Ottawa Convention, as well as to clarify facts on how Cambodia has violated its obligations.
  
  
• Thailand has scientific and empirical evidence, all of which was obtained through impartial and professional examinations and observations conducted by Thai agencies and independent mechanisms, including the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).
  
  
• Thailand has lodged several protests regarding Cambodia’s use of anti-personnel landmines. This does not only violate its obligations under the Ottawa Convention, but also constitutes breaches of Thailand’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
  
  
• The Foreign Minister will meet with key representatives, including: (1) Chief of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs in Geneva; (2) the Ambassador of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament, in her capacity as Chair of the 22nd Meeting of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention; (3) high-level representatives of relevant agencies, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. He will also host a working dinner for high-level representatives from various countries to exchange views on human rights issues, and to reflect Thailand’s constructive role in the HRC, in such areas as addressing the problem of online scams. He will invite them to participate in the International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams that Thailand will host in the coming days.

3. Update on the Coordination Center for Assistance to Foreigners Affected by the Southern Floods

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established the “Coordination Center for Assistance to Foreigners Affected by the Southern Floods” since 28 November 2025 to coordinate and compile offers of international assistance, as well as requests for help from foreign nationals affected by flooding in southern Thailand.
  
  
• To date, the Center has received notifications from foreign missions regarding approximately 800 foreign nationals who require assistance. These include Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, China, Croatia, Hungary, Bangladesh, Bhutan, South Africa, the U.S., the Netherlands, and Jordan. The Center has already coordinated with local authorities to assist all affected individuals.
  
  
• Although Thailand has not formally requested international assistance, several friendly countries have offered various forms of support should Thailand require them. Several partners have already provided assistance, while others are in the process of coordination. Examples include:
  
  

1. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided relief items, including tents, sleeping mats, blankets, plastic sheets, water containers, and water purifiers. These were handed over to the Prime Minister on 2 December.
   
   
2. The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Thailand, together with representatives from Human Tech (Korea), donated 1 million baht, which was presented to the Commander-in-Chief on 2 December.
   
   
3. The Ambassador of China to Thailand delivered monetary and in-kind donations from various Chinese associations and organizations in Thailand and China, partly through a 32-million-baht direct transfer to the Disaster Relief Fund under the Office of the Prime Minister, and another 30 million baht in multiple forms of assistance. It was presented to the Prime Minister on 3 December.
   
   
4. Executives from the Changi Regional HADR Coordination Centre provided essential relief supplies, including tents, medical kits, drinking water, and dried food, which were handed over to the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force on 3 December.
   
   

• Several other countries and international organizations, such as Singapore and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), are currently in discussions with relevant Thai agencies to assess needs and determine appropriate forms of support.
  
  
• Thailand extends its sincere appreciation to all friendly nations, international organizations, and private-sector partners from abroad for their goodwill and assistance to those affected by the floods. The Coordination Center will continue to compile aid offers for consideration by the Emergency Flood Response Operations Center.

4. Highlight activities hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the upcoming week
   

    4.1 The Relaunching of the Thailand - Africa Initiative (TAI) on 8 December 2025

• On 8 December 2025, the Ministry will organize the event "The Relaunching of the Thailand - Africa Initiative (TAI)." The Foreign Minister will announce Thailand's policy towards Africa and will also witness the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in rice research and development between Kasetsart University and AfricaRice. Participants will include ambassadors, high-level representatives from African countries, representatives from international organizations, and senior officials from relevant Thai government agencies and the private sector.
  
  

    4.2 Universal Health Coverage Day 2025 under the theme “Sustaining Universal Health: Global Governance and Local Effort”

• On 9 December 2025, the Universal Health Coverage Day 2025 event will be held under the theme “Sustaining Universal Health Coverage: Global Governance and Local Effort.” The Foreign Minister will preside over the opening of the event, which will feature seminars on sustainable health governance by Thai and foreign experts. The event will be attended by ambassadors, representatives from international organizations in Thailand, government agencies, the private sector, academia, civil society, and youth networks.

5. Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD to pay a visit to Thailand (Ms. Rujikorn Saengchantr, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs also joined this part of the press briefing)
   
   

• On 8 December 2025, Mr. František Ruzicka, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), is scheduled to pay a visit to Thailand.
  
  
• Thailand will submit its Initial Memorandum (IM), a self-assessment of legislation, policies and practices aligned with OECD legal instruments, to the OECD Deputy Secretary-General as a key step toward becoming a member, initiating the technical review phase that will lead to membership.
  
  
• The OECD Deputy Secretary-General will have meetings with the Prime Minister and relevant Ministers to discuss cooperation and Thailand’s policy development to be in accordance with the international standards. He will also meet with high-level representatives from the private sector, the labour sector and other sectors to be informed of their views towards the OECD process and Thailand’s role in the next step. He will join some activities and seminars organised to promote understanding of the OECD’s role and Thailand’s progress of the accession.

6. Israel identified the body of the last Thai hostage in Gaza

• The Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv just informed in the morning of 4 December 2025 (today) that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), in conjunction with Hamas, has returned the body of one of the four remaining bodies to Israel through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Israeli Institute of Forensic Sciences has verified the identity of Mr. Sudthisak Rinthalak, the last Thai hostage in Gaza. Mr. Sudthisak died on 7 October 2013 (the day of the incident) and was brought into Gaza.
  
  
• The Ambassador of Thailand to Israel has a telephone conversation with Mr. Sudthisak's mother to inform her of the news and has informed her that the Embassy will work with relevant Israeli agencies to return Mr. Suthisak's body to Thailand for religious rites as soon as possible.
  
  
• All 31 Thai hostages have now been released: 28 alive and three deceased. Thailand expresses its most sincere appreciation to Israel for helping negotiate the return of all Thai hostages during the past 2 years, as well as to all the countries that have provided assistance during the negotiation to successfully bring all Thai hostages back to their homeland.

Watch the full session at: https://fb.watch/DMUCWIHSP4/