ID :
680679
Wed, 04/17/2024 - 15:30
Auther :
BERNAMA
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/680679
The shortlink copeid

Thailand, New Zealand to Elevate Bilateral Relationship to Strategic Partnership

BANGKOK, April 17 (Bernama) -- Thailand and New Zealand have agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026, marking a significant step forward in their long-standing cooperation.

In a joint statement, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon said the Strategic Partnership will entail increased cooperation on areas of mutual interest, such as security, trade and investment, science and technology, culture, education, tourism, and closer people-to-people ties.

“In recognition of this long-standing relationship and a mutual commitment to deepen and strengthen existing ties to realise the full potential in our cooperation, therefore, Thailand and New Zealand have agreed to elevate our bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026,” said the prime ministers.

Srettha and Luxon have directed the two foreign ministries to coordinate with the relevant ministries and agencies to collaborate on establishing a comprehensive Roadmap and Plan of Action for this Strategic Partnership.

Luxon is on his inaugural visit to Thailand from Tuesday to April 18. The visit commemorates 68 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Thailand, as well as nearly 20 years of the Thailand-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership.

Meanwhile, Srettha and Luxon acknowledged the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Thailand-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (TNZCEP) in 2025.

Both prime ministers are looking forward to seeing tariff-free entry for all Thai and New Zealand imports from 1 January 2025, and noted that bilateral trade has more than tripled in the 20 years since the TNZCEP has been in place.

“In recognition of our vast economic cooperation and potential, the Prime Ministers today announced a new ambitious joint goal of tripling two-way trade by 2045,” the joint statement said.

Meanwhile, the two prime ministers agreed to prioritise future resumption of direct flights between Thailand and New Zealand.

“They set the goal of 100,000 tourists from New Zealand to Thailand by 2025, and 40,000 tourists from Thailand to New Zealand by 2025,” the joint statement said.

-- BERNAMA

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