On 31 October 2008, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Chariwat Santaputra, Deputy Permanent Secretary, co-chaired the 1st Senior Officials Meeting between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa led by Mr. Jerry M. Matjila, Deputy Director General of Asia and the Middle East Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa.
During the Meeting, both sides exchanged views on various bilateral matters including the current political situation in both countries, human trafficking and illegal workers issues, the possibility to promote mutual trade, investment, and tourism. The Meeting had finally agreed on draft agreement on agricultural co-operation in areas of plants, livestock, fisheries and promotion of agricultural trade.
On development cooperation, Mr. Chariyawat Santaputra reaffirmed that Thailand is committed to South-South Cooperation as a partner for development and attaches great importance to cooperation with South Africa. This was exemplified in experts exchange and training programme under Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA) framework and the TCDC modality (Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries).
Both sides congratulated concrete outcomes of the 1st Senior Official Meeting and looked forward to the 2nd Meeting to be held in November 2009 in South Africa.
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.