BANGKOK – Christopher Luxon is the first New Zealand Prime Minister to pay an official visit to Thailand in 11 years. The visit also marks 68 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Thailand and almost 20 years of the Thailand-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership. They will become strategic partners in 2026
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin officially welcomed him at the Government House in Bangkok on April 17 before the two leaders have a bilateral meeting where they will discuss cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Following that, they witnessed the signing of agreements between the relevant agencies of the two countries in the wide range of bilateral cooperation on political, security, economic, cultural, educational, people-to-people connections, science and technology, and development issues.
PM Srettha posted on X social media Wednesday afternoon, saying Thailand and New Zealand will sign an agreement to become strategic partners in 2026. That year will mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
At the same time, the two countries will boost their trade, with the goal of achieving 11 billion baht of annual trade by 2045, or a three-fold increase from the present.
New Zealand has also pledged to support Thailand’s applications to become a member of the OECD and the UN Human Rights Council.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a joint statement by the two prime ministers on April 17, 2024, on the topics:
- Thailand-New Zealand Strategic Partnership
- Defence and Security
- Economic Cooperation
- Renewable energy and climate change
- People-to-people links
- Regional cooperation
- Global developments
The two Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the situation in Myanmar, Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestine and the South China Sea.
On the situation in Myanmar, the Prime Ministers emphasised the importance of a peaceful, stable and unified Myanmar and affirmed their strong support for ASEAN-led efforts in line with the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus and encouraged the international community to work together in a pragmatic and constructive way to support peace and stability in Myanmar.
The Prime Ministers expressed grave concern at the dire and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and tragic loss of civilian life following the October 7 attacks. Prime Minister Luxon offered his condolences for the Thai migrant workers who lost their lives, and expressed sympathy for those that remain captive.
The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for those in need in Gaza and also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
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