BANGKOK, Thailand – H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, had a bilateral discussion with The Right Honourable Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand on the occasion of the official visit to Thailand as Guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand on 19 October. Key activities during the visit included a bilateral meeting between the two Foreign Ministers, a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and the signing of three MOUs between business sector from both countries.
During the discussions, both sides emphasized the importance of engaging all sectors to elevate Thai-New Zealand relations to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. They agreed on the necessity of developing a comprehensive action plan focusing on mutual benefits, including trade and investment, as well as three critical areas of security: food; energy; and human security, as well as water resource management. They also explored ways to enhance people connectivity, including the potential resumption of direct flights between Thailand and New Zealand and visa exemptions for Thai passport holders.
Both sides were also committed to strengthening cooperation under the multilateral frameworks. They also exchanged views on the situation in Myanmar. The Right Honourable Peters also paid a courtesy call to the Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. Their discussion centered on post-disaster management and recovery, the effectiveness of Thailand’s public health system, and challenges such as PM2.5 pollution, an ageing society, and transnational crime.
This Official Visit to Thailand by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand reflected the momentum of close ties and the exchange of high level visits between the two countries. This visit follows the recent official visit of the Prime Minister of New Zealand to Thailand on 16-18 April 2024. In addition, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand is scheduled to visit New Zealand in December 2024.
