Thai PM Meets New South Wales Governor to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

SYDNEY, Aug. 18 (TNA) — Thai Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul met with Margaret Beazley, Governor of New South Wales, at Government House on Tuesday to discuss deepening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across key sectors.

The meeting marked the first official visit to Australia by a Thai prime minister in 14 years. During the discussion, both leaders exchanged views on Thailand-Australia relations ahead of the upcoming 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Anutin commended Australia's role as a strategic regional partner and thanked Governor Beazley for her continued engagement with the Thai community in New South Wales. He also offered congratulations on the extension of her term through May 2028.

Highlighting the state’s multicultural environment, Anutin noted that New South Wales is home to approximately 30,000 Thai residents and 10,000 Thai students. He stated that this community provides a strong foundation for future collaboration in research, student exchanges, and workforce development.

The prime minister also pointed to growth in bilateral tourism, noting that around 800,000 Australian tourists visited Thailand in 2025.

In closing, Anutin expressed appreciation to the New South Wales government for its ongoing support of local Thai cultural events, including the Sydney Lunar Festival and the upcoming Thailand Grand Festival scheduled for September.-819 (TNA)