On 18 October 2008, the 12th Summit of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) in Quebec City, Canada, has approved Thailand’s application for an observer status of the Organization. Mr. Saroj Chavanaviraj, former Minister of Foreign Affairs attending the Summit as the Special Envoy of the Thai Prime Minister delivered an appreciative remarks reaffirming Thailand’s readiness to work closely with all members of the OIF.
The OIF comprises 53 member countries, 3 associate members and 14 observers covering all 5 continents. Thailand considered Francophonie as an organization which plays an important role in promoting peace, democracy and human rights with its unique character in solidarity of French culture and language of more than 800 million people.
It has been more than 320 years that Thailand and France have exchanged their cultural ties when Thailand first dispatched an ambassadorial delegation to France in 1684. The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand has long been encouraging the study of French culture and language among Thai students. The Alliance Francaise was first established in Bangkok since 1912 and currently has established 4 branches covering all 4 regions of Thailand. The French television channel “TV5” and French language teaching program are also broadcasting through cable network or satellite system to more than 500,000 Thai subscribed households. Last year alone, as much as 2.3 million tourists from French speaking countries visited the Kingdom.
Thailand is pleased to engage with the OIF and ready to extend her cooperation with all of its Members which is not only to create the network with many countries around the world but also is a great opportunity for Thailand to promote peace, democracy and human rights in accordance with the main objectives of the OIF.Through her own achievements in the areas of agriculture, small and medium manufactures, as well as public health services, Thailand is willing to be in partnership with the OIF member countries in trilateral and multilateral cooperation in providing technical and development assistance to other OIF’s developing member countries, in particular, to share the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy espoused by His Majesty the King of Thailand.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.