Summary of Weekly Press Briefing
by Director-General of Department of Information/Spokesperson of MFA
Friday, 26 December 2024 at 14.00 hrs.
Press Conference Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MFA FB/ Tiktok Live

1. Thailand’s assumption of the ACD Chairmanship from 1 January 2025

• On 23 December 2024, the Director- General of the Department of International Economic Affairs virtually attended the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Senior Officials’ Meeting, where Iran handed over the ACD chairmanship to Thailand, for the period from 1 January - 31 December 2025.  
• The ACD Chairmanship in 2025 will be under the theme “Fostering Asia’s Sustainable Growth and Future through Innovation.” Strategically, Thailand envisions the ACD to become a ‘Pan-Asia Forum,’ to advance cooperation amidst geopolitical contests, fostering understanding, trust and confidence, and inclusive dialogue. 
• Major meetings during Thailand’s ACD Chairmanship year include (1) the ACD virtual Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in February; (2) the Preliminary ACD High-Level Conference, focusing on the Global Architecture, to be followed by a Senior Officials’ Meeting, in May; (3) the Senior Officials’ Meeting and the 20th ACD Ministerial Meeting in August 2025; and (4) the Informal Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York in September 2025, where Thailand will hand over the chairmanship.
• As the ACD Chair, Thailand will serve as the bridge-builder to bring together the interests of the members, as well as connect the ACD with other cooperative frameworks.

2. Thailand’s acceptance as a BRICS 'Partner Country'

• At the end of October 2024, Thailand received from the Russian Federation, as 2024 BRICS Chair, the official invitation to become a BRICS ‘Partner Country.’ Subsequently, on 24 December 2024, the Cabinet was informed of Thailand’s reply and acceptance. On the same day, the Minister of Foreign Affairs signed the Letter to the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs to that effect.
• Becoming a BRICS Partner Country is a significant step towards future membership. As a Partner Country, Thailand seeks to elevate cooperation with BRICS Members, to enhance economic opportunities and highlight our role in promoting cooperation amongst developing countries, and a multilateral system that most benefits their interests, and to link BRICS with other frameworks.
• The BRICS group has outlined the role of partners in the ‘Modalities of BRICS Partner Country Category’ document, such as active participation in BRICS Partnership Sessions at various levels, and the endorsement of documents of BRICS Leaders’ and Foreign Ministers’ meetings.
• In 2025, Brazil will assume the BRICS Chairmanship, with the theme of “Strengthening Cooperation in the Global South for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.”

3. ‘New Year’s Gifts’ from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Thai public

• Following the Ministry’s annual traditions, the Ministry provides the following services as ‘New Year’s Gifts’ for the Thai public in 2025:
  • One-day express passport services with no express fee charged during 2 - 17 January 2025, except Saturday and Sunday;
  • One-day express legalization services with no express fee charged, limited to one personal document per person, during 6 - 17 January 2025, except Saturdays and Sundays, at the Department of Consular Affairs, Chaeng Watthana Road, the Legalization Office, Pathum Wan, and at Legalization Sections of the Phuket, Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Ubon Ratchathani and Pattaya Passport Offices;
  • A ‘Bangkok Mobile Service’ vehicle by the BMA will be stationed at the Department of Consular Affairs during 6 - 10 January 2025 to provide National ID card service, as well as copy services for Household Registrations, Birth Certificates and Death Certificates; and
  • The Department of Consular Affairs will hold 12 mobile passport services nationwide, to provinces that do not have Passport Offices, averaging one per month. The locations and details will be released in due course.  

4. Political situation and developments in the Republic of Korea

• On 3 December 2024, President Yoon Suk-Yeol declared martial law, which was lifted soon after. Afterwards, the ROK Parliament voted to impeach President Yoon, who has since been suspended from duties, with the Prime Minister serving as Acting President during the period that the ROK Parliament submitting the matter before the Constitutional Court, to consider the impeachment. If upheld, President Yoon will be immediately removed from office, with new presidential elections held within 60 days.
• During this time, the MFA and the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul, have followed these developments very closely. 
• As nations that enjoy a close friendship and goodwill, Thailand is confident that the ROK will soon overcome these political challenges. We wish to also reiterate our continued focus on driving forward our multi-faceted Strategic Partnership with the ROK.

5. Relocation of the Chiang Mai Passport Office

• Starting from 23 December 2024, the Chiang Mai Passport Office has been relocated to Central Chiang Mai Airport Shopping Complex, with passport services available during 09.00 - 17.00 hrs., and legalization services from 09.00 - 16.00 hrs., Monday to Friday, except public holidays.
• The MFA currently operates 27 Passport Offices and Service Units throughout the country, with two in the north, namely in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The Chiang Mai Office serves more than 87,000 people in the area annually.

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