Summary of Weekly Press Briefing
by Director-General of Department of Information/Spokesperson of MFA
Friday, 10 January 2025 at 11.30 hrs.
Buakaew Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MFA FB/ Tiktok Live

1. The Foreign Minister’s participation in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat) in Langkawi, Malaysia, from 17-19 January 2025

• The Foreign Minister is scheduled to attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMM Retreat) from 18-19 January 2025 in Langkawi, Malaysia, at the invitation of Malaysia as the ASEAN Chair for 2025
• The AMM Retreat is the first ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting of the year, under the ASEAN Chairmanship of Malaysia, where the Ministers will learn about the overall direction of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship throughout 2025, under the main theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability". They will also follow up on the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits held in October last year in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
• ASEAN Foreign Ministers will also take this opportunity to exchange views on international and regional situations affecting ASEAN.

2. Preparations for Thailand’s membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for the term 2025-2027

• In October, Thailand was elected member of the Human Rights Council with 177 votes, the highest number of votes received within the Asia-Pacific group. As from 1 January this year, Thailand assumes HRC membership which will run until 2027
• On 3 January 2025, the MFA held an inter-agency meeting to prepare Thailand's positions and actions to be advanced through our membership of the HRC.
• Thailand intends to push forward with priorities and initiatives in the HRC, which build on the work where Thailand has played a leading role including in the areas of: (1) the rights of children, (2) women and (3) vulnerable groups, (4) the right to health, (5) the administration of justice, (6) business and human rights and (7) technical cooperation. We will also consider emerging issues affecting human rights such as climate change, pandemics and digital technology.
• We stand ready to bridge gaps and coordinate different positions towards joint solutions, based on the progressive views we share with developed countries, and on the importance we place on the social, religious and cultural context of developing countries.

3. The first Saudi-Thai Coordination Council (STCC) on 16 January 2025

• MFA will host the 1st meeting of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council (STCC) at the Ministry on 16 January 2025, which will be co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia.
• The Council established as the main mechanism to drive bilateral cooperation in all dimensions and comprises five committees overseeing cooperation in
  • (1) political and consular affairs,
  • (2) security and military affairs,
  • (3) economy and trade,
  • (4) investment,
  • (5) culture and tourism.
• Up until now, these five committees have agreed on a total of 78 draft Initiative Cards or initiatives, to be submitted for consideration at the 1st meeting of the Council.
• This upcoming meeting will be another important step to propel dynamic relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia and lead to even more enhanced cooperation in the future.

4. Wildfires in California, USA

• Severe wildfires in California, USA, have burned down many homes and buildings, affecting a wide area of ​​the population,
• The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles has been monitoring the situation closely and has issued warnings to Thai nationals in the area as well as set up an emergency operations center to assist them.
• So far, there have been no reports of Thais being directly affected by the incident. However, if anyone is affected, they can contact the Consulate-General’s operations center at 323-962-9574 or the emergency number 323-580-4222, 24 hours a day.
• The Royal Thai Consulate-General would like Thai nationals in the area to continue to monitor the situation and follow the news as well as keep important documents or belongings close by in case they need to evacuate the area.

Watch full session: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1WSvPdhaU2/