Paris: The Thai Prime Minister held discussions with the French President to further elevate Thai-French relations to a strategic partnership, focusing on expanding economic and security cooperation and pushing for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Thailand and the European Union.
According to Thai News Agency, today at 8:30 PM (French time), at the French Presidential Palace in Paris, President Emmanuel Macron hosted a dinner for Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul. The meeting was conducted in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations.
Ms. Rachada Thanadirek, Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, outlined the key points of the discussion. Both leaders agreed to boost trade and investment, particularly in high-value industries such as alternative energy, aerospace, smart power transmission lines, and AI infrastructure. French companies expressed interest in investing in Thailand, while France encouraged more Thai investment in its own economy.
Negotiations for the Thailand-European Union Free Trade Agreement (Thailand-EU FTA) were highlighted as a key policy for Thailand. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for France's support and emphasized the potential economic benefits from concluding the agreement within the year.
Security cooperation, particularly in cybersecurity, was another focal point, given both nations' participation in the Cobra Gold exercise. The collaboration aims to combat scammers and online threats through global cooperation, which includes prosecuting suspects and seizing illegal assets.
The Prime Minister also addressed regional issues involving Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar, reaffirming Thailand's commitment to sovereignty, peace, and international law. The cancellation of MOU 44 was discussed as a strategic move towards relying on international law for resolving disputes, emphasizing dialogue and adherence to joint statements.
Both leaders agreed to proceed with the Joint Action Plan, aiming to strengthen the Thai-French Partnership from 2026 to 2028, marking a significant step towards establishing a strategic partnership between the two countries.