Paris: Mr. Maris Sengiampong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, disclosed the bilateral discussions held with Mr. Benjamin Dousa, Minister of International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Sweden, on the sidelines of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) in Paris, France.

According to Thai News Agency, the meeting focused on elevating cooperation between Thailand and Sweden to a strategic partnership, particularly in the defense industry, and advancing the Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Mr. Maris emphasized that Sweden’s expertise in advanced industries, especially military equipment, presents significant opportunities for collaboration in the defense sector. He believes that strengthening ties in this area will enhance the cooperation of the armed forces and lead to a higher level of partnership between the two nations. The talks also highlighted the importance of people-to-people connectivity, proposing that both countries intensify cooperation across various dimensions to achieve sustainable connectivity and progress towards the Thailand-EU FTA.

Additionally, Mr. Maris discussed human resource development, recognizing Sweden’s educational potential to support Thailand’s personnel development. Later in the day, he engaged in discussions with the OECD Secretary-General, reiterating Thailand’s commitment to becoming a full OECD member by 2030. The dialogue also addressed Thailand’s influential role within ASEAN and its potential to bridge ASEAN and the OECD, with the Secretary-General expressing eagerness for Thailand’s membership to enhance cooperation between the two regions.