H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand visited Australia from 10 to 12 December 2024 to co-chair the 2^nd Thailand – Australian Biennial Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Senator the Honourable Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, in Adelaide on 10 December 2024, before departing for Sydney. Foreign Minister Maris’s programme also includedmeeting with dignitaries of the state governments of South Australia and New South Wales, and representatives of the Australian business sector, visitingthe University of Adelaide, chairing Team Thailand meeting, as well asengaging with the Thai community in Australia.

          During the 2^nd Thailand – Australian Biennial Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held at the Government House in South Australia, both Ministers welcomed the progress made under the Thailand-Australia cooperation, including (1) the National Security Dialogue, which Thailand’s National Security Council has agreed to establish with Australia’s Ministry of Home Affairs; (2) MOU between EXIM Bank and Export Finance Australia to be signed in December 2024; (3) Australia’s support of 222.5 million Australian Dollar funding to the Mekong-Australia Partnership, which will enhance collaboration in the Mekong sub-region, including in capacity-building, water management, and climate resilience; (4) Australia’s support for Thailand to host the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme and (5) Thailand and Australia to further their cooperation in knowledge exchange on agriculture, food, medicines, science, and innovation. With the Joint Plan of Action to Implement the Thailand-Australia Strategic Partnership set to conclude in 2025, the Ministers tasked relevant officials to build on the current momentum and translate areas of cooperation into concrete outcomes. Prior to the Meeting, the Ministers visited the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) of the University of Adelaide, a leading centre for artificial intelligence development.

          In Adelaide, the Foreign Minister also met with H.E. the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, the Governor of South Australia, and the Honourable Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia. The Minister highlighted Thailand’s aim to enhance international cooperation in human security, food security and energy security, areas which Thailand and South Australia can foster collaborations. The Governor commended Thailand’s Proactive Economic Diplomacy, while the Premier expressed support for enhancing collaboration in education through joint-ventures and deepening partnerships between educational institutions. Additionally, the Minister visited the Waite Campus at the University of Adelaide, a leading research centre for agricultural technology. 

In Sydney, the Foreign Minister met with the Honourable Anoulack Chanthivong MP, Minister for Industry and Trade of New South Wales. During the discussion, both sides agreed to enhance the exchange of expertise and foster investment between startup enterprises. The Minister also met with a group of Australian business executives to discuss opportunities for investment, especially in key sectors such as electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, green energy and food and agriculture. Additionally, the Minister chaired a meeting with Team Thailand agencies in Australia, providing policy guidance to the Ambassador of Thailand to Australia, the Consul-General in Sydney, and Heads of Team Thailand agencies in Australia, representing 11 agencies in total. The Minister underscored the government’s commitment to Proactive Economic Diplomacy and deepened engagements with businesses. Following the meeting, the Minister visited Thai town and engaged with the Thai community.