The 4th Thai - French Political Consultations

On 17 June 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the 4th Thailand - France Political Consultations at the Ministry in the occasion of the official visits of Mr. Bertrand Lortholary, Director - General for Asia and Oceania, Ministry for Europe and Foreign affairs of the French Republic, to Thailand and other countries in the region. This year marked 166th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and France.

On this occasion, Director - General Bertrand Lorthorlary paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Permanent Secretary, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides discussed the implementation of the Roadmap for Thai - French Relations (2022 - 2024), which was signed by the Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in Paris on 22 February 2022, to enhance Thai - French relations to a strategic partnership by 2024. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues.

During the 4th Thailand - France Political Consultations, Mr. Asi Mamanee, Director - General of the Department of European Affairs, and
Mr. Bertrand Lorthorlary, the Director - General for Asia and Oceania, co-chaired the meeting. The meeting was held successfully in a constructive atmosphere. Both sides exchanged information and discussed ways to push forward concrete bilateral cooperation under the Roadmap in a wide range of areas, including political and economic cooperation, defence and security, trade and investment, education, arts, culture, tourism, science technology and innovation. In this regard, the Thai side reiterated the importance of starting the negotiation process for the Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Official Passports to promote exchanges of high-level visits from both countries. The French side also discussed the proposal to organize the "Thai - French Year of Innovation" activities in 2023.

After the meeting, H.E. Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand hosted a luncheon for Director - General Lorthorlary and the French delegation, during which both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues. The French side expressed its readiness to welcome the Thai delegation to France for the 5th Thailand - France Political Consultations next year.