Summary of Weekly Press Briefing
by Director-General of Department of Information/Spokesperson of MFA
Thursday 17 October 2024 at 11.00 hrs.
Buakaew Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MFA FB Live

1. Royal Kathina Ceremonies at Buddhist temples in 9 countries

• The project was initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1995 to offer the Royal Kathina robes to Buddhist temples abroad, which is aimed at strengthening people-to-people and cultural relations with associated countries as friends. This year, the Ministry has received the Kathina robes from the Palace along with the Kathina accessories and temple maintenance funds as an offering to 9 Buddhist temples in 9 countries, namely China, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Vietnam, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
• The 9 selected temples are highly revered, some are directly supported by the Supreme Patriarch or the Head of the Sangha in the host country, while some have a special historical link with Thailand.
• The ceremony in each country will include participation from the government sector representatives of the host country, along with the local Royal Thai Embassy, local Buddhists and a large number of Thais from Thai communities in the area. This year, on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King's 6th cycle birthday anniversary on 28 July 2024, the Ministry has invited the media to join the trips and support publications of the event, including photos and footages of the event with the public.

1. Upcoming missions by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

2.1 The 2024 BRICS Summit

• During 23-24 October 2024, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, as Special Representative of the Prime Minister, is scheduled to attend the BRICS Plus Summit on 24 October 2024 in Kazan, Russia, at the invitation of the President of Russia.
• This meeting is the 4^th BRICS Plus Summit, which will be held under the theme "BRICS and the Global South: Building a Better World Together" to discuss solutions to regional and global challenges and ways to promote multilateralism to create a more fair and beneficial international system for developing countries. The meeting is an opportunity for Thailand to reiterate its commitment to enhance its interactions with BRICS after Thailand submitted its letter of intent to join the BRICS in June 2024. In addition to members, other developing countries will also participate in the meeting, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and Kazakhstan.
• The BRICS Plus Summit was established in 2017 at the proposal of China to allow BRICS member states and developing countries to cooperate in finding ways to promote cooperation among developing countries and support the strengthening of multilateralism. There have been 3 meetings under the BRICS Plus framework in total, with Thailand participating in every meeting.

2.2 The Official Visit to Thailand of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines and the 6th Thailand - the Philippines Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC)

• On 18 October 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will welcome H.E. Mr. Enrique A. Manalo, Foreign Secretary of the Philippines, who is scheduled to pay an official visit to Thailand and will co-chair the 6th Meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of the Philippines (JCBC).
• This visit is the first official visit by the Foreign Secretary of the Philippines to Thailand. It will be a follow-up to the official visit to the Philippines by the Thai Foreign Minister on 4 July 2024 and also to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Philippines.
• This JCBC will review and follow-up on cooperation between Thailand and the Philippines in all dimensions, as well as discuss future directions for cooperation, such as in trade and investment promotion, business facilitation, food security, energy, promoting cooperation in combating transnational crime, the defense industry, labor and education, and exchanging views on regional and international issues of common concern.

2.3 Launch of the CLEAR Sky Strategy with high-level representatives from Lao PDR and Myanmar

• On 29 October 2024, the ASEAN Department will collaborate with the Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to launch the Joint Plan of Action - CLEAR Sky Strategy (2024-2030) between Thailand, Lao PDR and Myanmar, as well as hold a seminar on approaches to solving trans-boundary haze problems in the ASEAN region at the Ministry. The Action Plan under the CLEAR Sky Strategy is a guideline for cooperation between Thailand, Lao PDR and Myanmar to address trans-boundary haze pollution in a concrete and sustainable manner.
• Activities will include
  • The launch of the Clear Sky Strategy, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs giving an opening speech together with H.E. Mr. Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. The Ministry has also invited the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Lao PDR and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation of Myanmar to join the opening ceremony.
  • As for the seminar on approaches to addressing trans-boundary haze in ASEAN, the Ministry has invited speakers from 6 environmental agencies from various countries and international organizations, namely (1) the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia; (2) the National Environment Agency of Singapore; (3) the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China; (4) the U.S. Agency for International Development; (5) the World Health Organization; and (6) the World Bank, to discuss and exchange views and experience on addressing transboundary haze, including various suggestions to implement the joint action plan in achieving tangible results.
  • There will also be an exhibition showcasing cooperation on this topic by the Department of International Cooperation (TICA), the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), and the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ).

1. Updates on the Thai fatality due to the situation in the Middle East

• With regards to the death of a Thai national in northern Israel near the Lebanese border on 11 October 2024, the Israeli authorities have now verified the identity of the deceased as Mr. Nisant Meeram, a resident of Buriram Province. The Israeli authorities have issued a death certificate for Mr. Nisant, while the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv has informed the relatives of the deceased. The Ministry would like to express its deepest condolences to Mr. Nisant's family.
• The Embassy has also informed that it has coordinated the transfer of Mr. Nisant's body on El Al flight LY081, departing from Israel on 21 October at 10:45 p.m. and arriving in Thailand on 22 October at 2:00 p.m.
• The situation in the Middle East continues to be tense and fragile. In this connection, the Minisry would like to reiterate to Thais who may still be living in high-risk areas to consider leaving the area while they can still do so. For those planning to travel to countries or areas that are experiencing conflict, especially northern Israel and Lebanon, please consider postponing travels given no urgency at this time.

1. Plans for 'Thai Festivals' scheduled to be held in various countries

• On 15 October 2024, Ms. Tongrudee Makboon, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, chaired a meeting to plan for Thai festivals abroad during the 2025 fiscal year, in order to rebrand Thai festivals to showcase a more innovative and creative side of Thailand, while still maintaining Thailand's charm.
• Thai festivals serve as an important window to Thailand and a key channel to promote 'Local to Global' products and services, industries, technology, and an 'evolving' Thailand that is open to various global trends, such as sustainability, creativity, and inclusiveness.
• In the 2025 fiscal year, the Ministry plans to organize Thai festivals in 45 cities in 32 countries around the world under the main theme "Thailand's Creative Economy" and has designated 6 flagship cities for Thai festivals in each region, namely Washington D.C., Paris, Beijing, New Delhi, Riyadh, and Hanoi.

Watch the full session at: https://fb.watch/vgrLfN3-gY/

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