H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand held bilateral discussions with H.E. Mr. Enrique A. Manalo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, where they expressed the same view on an amicable relation the two countries have long shared for over 75 years and therefore reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including through high-level exchanges of visit and key bilateral mechanisms in 2024 on 4th July. In this regard, Thailand expressed readiness to host the 6th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in October and also proposed for an Official Visit to the Republic of Philippines of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand within this year.
On security cooperation, both sides discussed cooperation on combatting transnational crimes, especially online scams. On economic cooperation, both sides agreed to enhance trade and investment, whereby major Thai investors have made large contributions to the Philippines’ food security and renewable energy sector. On this occasion, the Thai Foreign Minister requested the Philippines’ government to facilitate Thai investments, in which the Philippines has reaffirmed the support and also welcomed the new investment opportunity from Thailand, especially in EV, Information Technology and Digital Infrastructure. At the same time, the Thai side expressed appreciation for the contributions of Filipino workers in Thailand, particularly in the education, hospitality, and service sectors. Both sides also agreed to enhance tourism cooperation, including in the area of sustainable tourism and expansion of flight routes.
Both Foreign Ministers also discussed key regional and international issues, including situations in Myanmar, South China Sea, and the Middle East. (MFA)
