Thai foreign minister urges joint efforts to tackle regional challenges

Thailand’s new government, led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, will focus on tackling cross-border challenges with a people-centered approach, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said on Thursday, calling for joint efforts by neighboring countries and China to address the issues.

“Thailand conducts diplomacy for the benefit of its people and we prioritize the fight against illegal drug trafficking, water management, call center fraud, air pollution and transnational crime,” Maris said at a press conference. He stressed that these issues have a direct impact on the well-being and quality of life of the Thai people, but cannot be solved by one country alone; they require cooperation.

“I have visited the affected areas, seen the problems with my own eyes and learned about the real needs of the affected communities,” Maris said. He urged joint efforts and international cooperation with China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to address these transboundary challenges.

Last month, at a meeting with these countries, which coincided with the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Framework, Thailand took the lead in pushing for solutions to air pollution, water management and transnational crime. The meeting identified these issues as urgent, with all five countries expressing their willingness to work with Thailand for practical, long-term results.

“The drug issue is of great importance to the Prime Minister and is a priority for Thailand in its relations with Mekong countries, especially Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and China,” Maris added, stressing that the drug problem poses a significant threat to the well-being of future generations.

Maris noted that management of the Mekong River, particularly the impact of flooding on communities living along its banks, is another important issue that Thailand has recently discussed with China and Laos.

“I also recently discussed with Myanmar the importance of close cooperation to alleviate the suffering of communities on both sides affected by floods and to ensure effective and sustainable water management,” he added.

Maris pointed out that air pollution, which poses health risks not only in Thailand but also in neighboring countries, is one of the new government’s top priorities. Thailand ranks fourth in the region as the most polluted country in Southeast Asia, according to research conducted by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.

“With regard to clean air, we need to have important discussions before we can jointly monitor forest fires and the spread of smog. The ministry will continue to advocate for the interests of the public, with the aim of collective solutions to these problems,” Maris said.

Now that the new Thai government has officially taken office, Maris stressed that the ministry will continue to take concrete actions and build on the foundations laid by the previous government.

“Our foreign policy is and will continue to be based on two main approaches: first, we will promote people’s diplomacy and second, we will conduct proactive economic diplomacy. Major countries and partners are already taking note of Thailand’s active role,” he added.

On Thursday, Maris also announced that Thailand wants to facilitate cross-border travel for tourists from six countries in the region through a single visa policy called ‘Six Countries, One Destination’, positioning Thailand as a regional tourism hub.

“We will accelerate negotiations with five other ASEAN countries – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Malaysia – to implement this policy. This will greatly facilitate travel, bringing more tourists to the region and contributing to our economy,” Maris said, noting that this initiative will also tie in closely with regional connectivity projects such as the Thailand-Laos-China railway.