SYDNEY, Australia – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, accompanied by his spouse, paid a courtesy call on New South Wales Governor Margaret Beazley in Sydney on August 18 to discuss Thailand-Australia relations and opportunities for closer cooperation in trade, innovation, education, and research. The meeting at Government House took place during the first official visit to Australia by a Thai prime minister in 14 years. Thailand and Australia will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, with Australia remaining an important strategic partner for Thailand.
Anutin also discussed people-to-people ties, noting that about 30,000 Thai nationals live in New South Wales and around 10,000 Thai students attend universities in the state. The two sides see opportunities for greater cooperation in research, student exchanges, and workforce development. Tourism remains another major link, with about 800,000 Australians visiting Thailand in 2025. The prime minister thanked the New South Wales government for supporting the Thai community and cultural events, including the Sydney Lunar Festival and the Thailand Grand Festival scheduled for September. The talks also involved opportunities to expand economic, technological, and educational cooperation. (NNT)
