วันจันทร์ที่ 8 พฤศจิกายน 2564
​PMs of Thailand and New Zealand discuss handover of APEC chairmanship and cooperation in all dimensions
​PMs of Thailand and New Zealand discuss handover of APEC chairmanship and cooperation in all dimensions
November 5, 2021, at 11.45 hrs at PMOC Room, Thai Khu Fah Building, Government House, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha had a meeting via the videoconference with the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand on the handover of APEC chairmanship and key priorities Thailand would like to put forward at the APEC Summit. Government Spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana disclosed gist of the meeting as follows:
The Prime Minister expressed pleasure to meet and discuss with the New Zealand Prime Minister again following the latter’s visit to Bangkok to attend the 14th East Asia Summit. The Prime Minister commended diplomatic relations between the two countries. Despite the COVID-19 situation, Thailand and New Zealand continue to forge relations and cooperation at both bilateral, sub-regional and regional levels. The Prime Minister congratulated New Zealand’s success in hosting the APEC Summit, and affirmed Thailand’s readiness to take over the APEC chairmanship. He also looked forward to welcoming the New Zealand Prime Minister to the 29th APEC Summit to be held in Thailand in November 2022.
The New Zealand Prime Minister expressed pleasure to meet with the Thai Prime Minister today. She also commended the Prime Minister’s role and Thailand’s progress on the preparation for the 29th APEC Summit, and looked forward to taking part in the meeting and the handover of APEC chairmanship which will take place next week.
The New Zealand Prime Minister was impressed with the priorities Thailand aims to put forward at the APEC Summit, and pleased with Thailand-New Zealand diplomatic relations, of which the 65th anniversary is being celebrated this year. Both parties also discussed bilateral cooperation in various aspects:
-Trade and investment: New Zealand wish to increase trade and investment cooperation through existing mechanisms and long-standing relations, on which the Prime Minister agreed upon for mutual interests.
-Tourism: The New Zealand Prime Minister wishes to promote people-to-people relations. The Prime Minister informed her that New Zealand tourists are allowed to enter Thailand under the country reopening scheme. Both parties agreed to further promote tourism activities between the two countries.
-Public health: Thailand would like to learn about “Travel Medicine” from New Zealand, and seek cooperation in medical training and curriculum development.
-Education: The Prime Minister commended New Zealand’s educational system, which sees the enrollment of over 3,000 Thai students each year. He called for the New Zealand Government to allow Thai students back in the country.
Both parties also discussed and exchanged views on the current global issues:
-COVID-19 and vaccine acquisition: The Prime Minister praised New Zealand’s success in curbing the spread of COVID-19 under the “Go Hard, Go Early” policy, and the country’s donation of COVID-19 vaccines to COVAX Facility and the Pacific Islands. Thailand has also made financial contribution and humanitarian assistance in this regard.
-Environment: The New Zealand Prime Minister commended the Prime Minister’s vision and priority on the environment agenda, which has been set as national policies for sustainable development and as key agendas for the APEC Summit. The Prime Minister added that Thailand hopes to push forward BCG economic model through the collaboration with New Zealand’s 30-year economic development plan.
-Myanmar situation: Both parties would like to see peace, stability, and reconciliation in Myanmar. The Prime Minister thanked New Zealand for endorsing ASEAN’s role to resolve the Myanmar situation, and hoped that the country continue to support ASEAN. The New Zealand Prime Minister commended Thailand’s active role in the region.
The Prime Minister also hoped to increase cooperation with New Zealand in the fields of public health and energy through future collaborations between Thai agencies, that is, Ministry of Public Health (Department of Medical Services, Department of Disease Control, Department of Medical Sciences), Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research), and New Zealand’s concerned agencies.