Paris: Prime Minister Srisaket Sihasak held bilateral discussions with the UNESCO Director-General, explaining the situation on the Thai-Cambodian border and preparing to propose the registration of "Thai traditional dress" as a cultural heritage in 2026.
According to Thai News Agency, on February 23, 2026, in Paris, France, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkaew, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), at UNESCO headquarters. This meeting, held during the Minister's visit to Paris, France, marked the first official meeting between the two parties since they assumed their respective positions.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs congratulated the Director-General of the United Nations on his appointment and extended an official invitation to visit Thailand. The meeting also included discussions on geopolitical challenges and their impact on multilateralism, as well as the management and reform of UNESCO. Furthermore, the Thai side briefed on the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border and discussed the proposal to register "Thai traditional dress" as a Representative Item of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity to UNESCO in 2026. The UNESCO side exchanged views on policy and organizational management, and inquired about the facts regarding the Thai-Cambodian border situation. The Minister of Foreign Affairs took the opportunity to provide the UNESCO side with a comprehensive account of the situation.
Thailand has been a member of UNESCO since January 1, 1949, and has played a continuous role, particularly in establishing the UNESCO Regional Office in Thailand in 1961. Thailand currently holds eight World Heritage sites and six intangible cultural heritage items, reflecting strong cooperation and Thailand's commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage on a multilateral level.