Summary of Weekly Press Briefing by

Director-General of Department of Information/Spokesperson of MFA

10 April 2025 at 11.00 hrs. at Press Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

and MFA FB/TikTok Live

1. Outcomes of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and Related Meetings, and the Official Visits during this period

• The 6th BIMSTEC Summit and Related Meetings during 2 - 4 April 2025 that Thailand hosted was the first leaders-level summit of the current Government, which received a lot of attention from both Thai and international media.
• The Summit adopted a number of important outcome documents, particularly “The 6th BIMSTEC Summit Declaration” and the “Bangkok Vision 2030.” These two documents set out strategies towards a Prosperous, Resilient, and Open BIMSTEC, or ‘PRO BIMSTEC,’ Thailand’s theme for our Chairmanship year. In turn, these strategies will lead to tangible outcomes and cooperation, including the reduction of freight costs and increasing supply chain efficiency, addressing emerging threats such as transnational crime, promoting the role of the private sector, and enhancing people-to-people connectivity.
• The Leaders also adopted the “BIMSTEC Leaders’ Joint Statement on the Impact of the Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand on 28 March 2025,” that was proposed by Thailand. It was an expression of solidarity and it reaffirmed the importance of the grouping’s close collaboration on disaster management.
• The BIMSTEC Ministers signed the “Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation”, to enhance maritime transport connectivity in the region. The Memorandums of Understanding between BIMSTEC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and between BIMSTEC and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) were also signed. These MoUs will strengthen inter-organisational cooperation, and further enhance BIMSTEC’s role in the international arena.
• Another highlight activity initiated by Thailand was the “BIMSTEC Young Gen Forum,” held on 3 April 2025, where Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, gave a keynote speech. A large number of leading young entrepreneurs from the BIMSTEC region took part in the event, which received widespread attention.
• During the Summit week, Thailand also hosted the Official Visits of two BIMSTEC Leaders, namely the Prime Minister of Nepal, and the Prime Minister of India. The Thai and Nepalese Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of 8 agreements, while 5 agreements and MoUs were signed between Thailand and India in various areas that will benefit the peoples of the two countries.
• In the case of India, the Thai Prime Minister presented the Sajjhaya (สัชฌายะ) edition of the Tipitaka to the Prime Minister of India, as a gift of peace and Buddhist wisdom from the Thai people. This special edition of the Tipitaka was published as part of the celebration of the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 6th cycle birthday anniversary, on 28 July 2024.

2. The Foreign Minister’s humanitarian mission to Myanmar

• On 5 April 2025, Foreign Minister Maris visited Nay Pyi Taw together with Foreign Minister Mohamad bin Hasan of Malaysia, in his capacity as the ASEAN Chair. The Thai delegation comprised representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
• This visit was a follow-up to the Special Emergency Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in the Aftermath of the Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, held on 30 March 2025. It also came at the invitation of the Foreign Minister of Malaysia, noting that Thailand is a close neighbour of Myanmar and plays a vital role in assisting Myanmar on many fronts. The purpose of the visit was to assess humanitarian needs and discuss ways to support the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar people affected by the recent earthquake.
• Both Thai and Malaysian delegations paid a courtesy call on Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Prime Minister of Myanmar, and held a meeting with U Than Swe, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar. They also had fruitful discussions with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) and United Nations agencies, on mobilizing assistance to the affected population.
• Myanmar’s current priorities include mobile medical teams and support, temporary shelters, sanitation items, water purifiers and essential medical supplies to prevent outbreaks. In this regard, Thailand and Malaysia agreed to coordinate closely with Myanmar in mobilizing and managing international assistance during the recovery phase, with the AHA Centre acting as a central coordinator.
• In addition, the Foreign Minister also visited a mobile medical clinic run by the Thai military medical team at Basic Education High School Mingon, which is providing services to the local population. He presided over the handover of relief items from the Thai Red Cross Society and the Thai private sector to the Myanmar Red Cross Society for further distribution to those in need.

3. Foreign Minister’s visit to Buri Ram Province

• Today (10 April 2025, Foreign Minister Maris is on a trip to Buriram Province, which has two main objectives.
• First, is to follow up on the progress of upgrading the Sai Takoo - Chub Koki (สายตะกู-จุ๊บโกกี) temporary border trade checkpoint to a permanent crossing. This checkpoint is the only trade checkpoint linking Buriram Province with Cambodia, and thus holds a lot of significance for trade and people-to-people exchanges. It also serves as another gateway to Siem Reap (เสียมราฐ), home to the famous Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, major tourist attractions in Cambodia.
• The second mission is to visit the family of Mr. Nisan Meerum (นิสันต์ มีรัมย์), a Thai worker who lost his life in Northern Israel due to an unexploded ordnance in October 2024.
• This visit to Buriram Province underscores the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to proactive economic policies and public diplomacy with tangible outcomes.

4. Foreign Minister's attendance at the Thai Festival in Auckland, New Zealand, and outcomes of the Thai Festival in Hanoi, Viet Nam

• The Foreign Minister is scheduled to visit Auckland, New Zealand, from 10 - 14 April 2025 to attend the Thai Festival under the name “Thai New Year Songkran Festival 2025” at Auckland University of Technology.
• The Thai Festival in Auckland is organized by the Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington, in collaboration with the New Zealand-Thailand Business Association, to showcase Thailand’s Songkran Festival recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and to highlight Thailand’s soft power industries.
• The Thai Festival has been organized around the world for over 30 years. This year, the Ministry has rebranded the festival under the theme: “Thai Festival: Creative Pulse – The Pulse of Tradition, the Pulse of Tomorrow,” to position the festival as a platform for promoting Thai products, services, and innovations in global markets.
• Earlier, the Thai Festival was also held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, from 28 - 30 March 2025 at the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long under the theme, “Creative Thailand: The Pulse of Tradition.” The event provided an opportunity for collaboration between public and private sectors and was well-received by the Vietnamese public. It contributed significantly to strengthening people-to-people relations and promoting Thailand’s soft power in Viet Nam.
• In this regard, on 28 March 2025, Mrs. Lalivan Karnchanachari, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, also presided over the opening ceremony of the Thai Festival in Hanoi 2025, with Associate Professor Le Hai Binh, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Viet Nam, attending as the guest of honour.

5. Introduction of the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

• Starting 1 May 2025, the Royal Thai Government (the Immigration Bureau), will introduce an electronic arrival card, which will be known as the ‘Thailand Digital Arrival Card,’ or TDAC. This will replace the traditional disembarkation, or ‘TM. 6’ card.
• It will be required for all foreigners* entering Thailand through all channels of transport; land, water, and air. Registration can be completed online via the website tdac.immigration.go.th. In the near future, this form will also be available as iOS and Android mobile applications.
• The TDAC, or online TM.6 system, is a significant development in facilitating the entry of foreign travelers, through the use of modern smart travel technology that is fast and secure. Not only will it be convenient for travelers, the information given will also be beneficial in providing the appropriate care and assistance for tourists and international visitors coming to Thailand, and will support other important purposes, such as public health.
• The TDAC can be completed up to three days prior to the date of arrival in Thailand. The system will request information including; Passport or Travel Document, personal details, travel details, accommodation in Thailand, and health details. Those from points of origin designated as high-risk areas by the Ministry of Public Health, within the previous 14-day period, may be asked to supply more information. Once submitted, the TDAC may be downloaded, or the confirmation received through the specified email address, can be used to present to the immigration officer upon arrival in Thailand. Applications can be edited, and submissions can also be made as a group.
• The TDAC is not a visa. It is a digital entry card, developed for the purposes of facilitating travel to Thailand. Thai nationals are not required to complete the TDAC upon return to Thailand.

Watch the full session at: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14kr4d94Zm/