Bangkok: Prime Minister held bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister of Bhutan to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in tourism, education and multilateral frameworks, while the Prime Minister of Bhutan praised Thailand's effective disaster management. Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, met with Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan, on the occasion of her visit to Thailand to attend the BIMSTEC Leaders' Meeting.
According to Thai News Agency, the Prime Minister praised Bhutan's preparations for the official visit of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen to Bhutan, which is an important milestone in the history of Thai-Bhutanese relations. Thai and Bhutanese officials are ready to coordinate closely to ensure that the visit is worthy of their dignity. The Prime Minister of Bhutan emphasized that the government and people of Bhutan are ready to welcome them with due honor, and that celebrations of Thai-Bhutanese relations will be held throughout this year.
While the Prime Minister of Bhutan expressed his concern over the earthquake, His Majesty the King of Bhutan sent his concern and encouragement to the Thai government and people. The Prime Minister of Bhutan also praised the government's quick and efficient management of the situation, which enabled the reduction of possible damage, including Thailand's construction standards that can withstand tremors very well, reflecting Thailand's readiness to cope with natural disasters.
On the issue of discussion, in terms of trade and economic cooperation, the two leaders agreed on the potential of the Thailand-Bhutan Free Trade Agreement, which was just concluded in negotiations within 9 months and will be signed after this discussion, which will help promote trade and investment, with Thailand interested in investing in the tourism industry, smart cities and digital infrastructure in Bhutan.
On development, the Bhutanese Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the cooperation and support from the Thai Government in promoting the implementation of Thailand's One Village, One Product (OTOP) policy into the "One Gewog, One Product" (OGOP) project, with both parties confident that this policy will help develop the potential of communities and increase the value of Bhutanese local products to reach more markets.
In terms of tourism, the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Bhutan agreed to support the policy of 'Two Kingdoms, One Destination' to jointly promote tourism between Thailand and Bhutan. The Prime Minister also invited Bhutan to participate in the tourism promotion event 'Thailand Travel Mart Plus' in Chiang Mai Province in June 2025, which is an important event that provides an opportunity for tourism entrepreneurs from around the world to meet and build networks for cooperation in tourism.
On education and human resource development, the Prime Minister confirmed the readiness to provide scholarships and promote personnel exchanges between Thailand and Bhutan, especially in the fields of advanced technology and artificial intelligence (AI), which are important skills in the digital age. In addition, the government has a policy to support training and skills development for Thai youth in the service, food, and health industries so that Thai people can access more economic opportunities. On regional and multilateral cooperation, the Prime Minister of Bhutan commended Thailand and Bhutan for hosting the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and expressed his support for Thailand in the international arena. The two leaders believed that the BIMSTEC Summit would help strengthen cooperation within BIMSTEC and bring tangible benefits to the people of the region.
Then at 2:00 p.m., the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Bhutan witnessed the signing of the Thailand-Bhutan Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which will help strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries in the long term.