Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon signed a ‘Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership’ on Friday, marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and raising bilateral ties to a higher level.
Speaking after the bilateral talks held at noon, (local time), in Government House in Wellington, Anutin expressed delight at his official visit, describing it as the opening of a new chapter in the long-standing friendship between the two nations.
The two leaders discussed four key pillars under the ‘Thailand-New Zealand Joint Plan of Action 2026–2030’, a strategic framework designed to deliver concrete benefits to citizens of both countries.
On political and security cooperation, both nations agreed to strengthen efforts against transnational crime, online scams and human trafficking, while enhancing coordination between their respective law enforcement agencies.
On economic, trade and innovation cooperation, both sides agreed to boost trade and investment, focusing on innovation, food and energy security, the green economy, sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation. They set an ambitious target to triple bilateral trade to approximately 246 billion baht by 2045 and plan to develop further the ‘Thailand-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership’ (TNZCEP).
Anutin noted that top Thai business executives had joined his delegation to meet with New Zealand officials and business leaders, opening doors to new areas of collaboration and deepening private sector linkages.
Regarding education, culture and people-to-people ties, both nations agreed to enhance educational cooperation, skill development, capacity building and cultural exchanges, to foster closer community relationships.
On regional and multilateral cooperation, both countries pledged to work closely through Mekong sub-regional frameworks, ASEAN-led mechanisms, APEC and other international forums, affirming the importance of a rules-based international order to promote peace and sustainable development.
Following the joint press conference, the leaders signed the ‘Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership’ and witnessed the signing of four cooperation documents spanning cultural ties, civil service training with Education New Zealand, police information sharing between the Royal Thai Police and New Zealand Police and a private sector MoU between Chata Instruments Company Limited and Aeroqual Limited.
Anutin also sought New Zealand's support for Thailand's OECD membership bid, which Luxon fully endorsed.
Moreover, Thai Airways plans to resume direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland by March 2027, with Anutin promising to expedite the launch to boost tourism, trade and investment.
