Thailand, New Zealand to Forge "Strategic Partnership" by 2026

BANGKOK, April 18 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin welcomed and engaged in bilateral discussions with New Zealand  Prime Minister Christopher at Government House on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister expressed honor to welcome Prime Minister Luxon, together with his delegation. This marks the first visit of a New Zealand Prime Minister to Thailand in eleven years.

Prime Minister Laxon was accompanied by Simon Watts, Climate Change Minister of New Zealand, and Paolo Garcia, Member of the New Zealand Parliament, along with officials from relevant government agencies and New Zealand business delegates.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to elevate Thailand - New Zealand relations to a “Strategic Partnership” in 2026 or sooner, which will mark the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations. 

They witnessed the signing of the two MOUs including the Education Agreement between Thailand’s Office of the Basic Education Commission and New Zealand’s Massey University and the Agreement on Supply, Repair and Maintenance Support between Thailand’s Thai Aviation Industries Co., Ltd. and New Zealand’s NZSkydive Limited.

Thailand and New Zealand pledge strengthened defense and security cooperation. Thai and New Zealand Prime Ministers affirm commitment to combat transnational organized crimes, focusing on anti-human and drug trafficking, cyber-security, and counter-terrorism. They aim to triple bilateral trade by 2045.

Both leaders welcome efforts to enhance people-to-people ties, as New Zealand is home to some 13,000 Thai nationals, and has always been a popular and enriching destination for Thai students and scholars.

They prioritize visa facilitation and the resumption of direct flights to meet targets of welcoming 100,000 New Zealanders to Thailand and 40,000 Thai tourists to New Zealand by next year.

Discussions include regional issues like Myanmar. Thailand is monitoring the situation along the Thai - Myanmar border closely, and hopes that the Myanmar parties pursue dialogue towards a peaceful solution, consistent with ASEAN’s Five-point Consensus. -819 (TNA)