Thailand, Australia Deepen Strategic Partnership

Thailand and Australia agreed to deepen their strategic partnership, with a focus on tackling transnational crime, expanding economic ties and strengthening cooperation in science and innovation, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Wednesday.

Anutin and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held bilateral talks and a joint press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on 19 August, during Anutin's first official visit to Australia by a Thai prime minister in 14 years.

The visit comes ahead of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Australia next year.

The two countries upgraded their ties to a Strategic Partnership in 2020. Their latest talks covered four main areas: politics and security; economic, trade and innovation cooperation; culture and people-to-people ties; and regional and multilateral cooperation.

On security, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation against traditional and emerging threats, particularly transnational crime, including online scams, human trafficking, drug trafficking and money laundering.

The two governments welcomed a Joint Statement on Transnational Crime, aimed at strengthening efforts to prevent and combat cross-border crime at bilateral, regional and global levels.

The leaders also welcomed a Leaders' Statement on Deepening Economic Engagement, which seeks to make greater use of the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement, expand bilateral trade and investment in key sectors, and support a rules-based multilateral trading system.

Thailand and Australia also welcomed a Letter of Intent between Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency and Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation to expand cooperation in science, research and innovation.

On defence, Anutin welcomed an Australian proposal to establish a biennial Thailand-Australia Defence Ministers' Meeting to strengthen defence cooperation and support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

The two countries' defence ministries will coordinate to establish the mechanism as soon as possible.

Anutin also highlighted the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties through education, innovation and skills development. He praised the contribution of the Thai community to Australian society and noted Thailand's continued popularity as a destination for Australian tourists.

At the regional level, Thailand and Australia will work more closely through ASEAN, the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, the Mekong-Australia Partnership and other relevant frameworks.

Anutin also thanked Australia for its continued support for Thailand's bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Albanese expressed Australia's readiness to deepen cooperation with Thailand across a range of areas, particularly the fight against transnational crime and economic cooperation.