Link to Main Content
FOREIGN AFFAIRS NEWS
The President of the Senate of Thailand Welcomed the President of the Council of States of the Swiss Confederation and the Delegation during the Official Visit to Thailand As the Guests of the Senate on 3 - 6 November 2021
The President of the Senate of Thailand Welcomed the President of the Council of States of the Swiss Confederation and the Delegation during the Official Visit to Thailand
As the Guests of the Senate on 3 – 6 November 2021
-----------------------------------------
As the Guests of the Senate on 3 – 6 November 2021
-----------------------------------------
On Thursday 4 November 2021 at 10.45 hrs, at the Special Reception Room 204, on the 2nd floor, Parliament Building (Senate Wing), Professor Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, the President of the Senate, welcomed H.E. Mr. Alex Kuprecht, the President of the Council of States of the Swiss Confederation, and the delegation during the official visit to Thailand as the guests of the Senate on 3 – 6 November 2021. The purposes of the visit were to strengthen the relations and increase the cooperation with European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Gen. Singsuk Singpai, the First Vice President of the Senate, Mr. Supachai Somcharoen, the Second Vice President of the Senate, Mrs. Pikulkeaw Krairiksh, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs as an honored welcomer, Gen. Surapong Suwana-Adth, Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Miss Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, Advisor of Thailand-Switzerland Parliamentarians’ Friendship Group, and Miss Napaporn Jaisajja, Secretary-General of the Senate, attended the welcoming event.
In the meeting, Professor Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, the President of the Senate, welcomed the President of the Council of States of the Swiss Confederation and the delegation and expressed confidence that this visit would strengthen the relations between Thailand and the Swiss Confederation especially on legislative branch. The President of the Senate also expressed gratitude that the Swiss Confederation had been a great friend to Thailand. Especially during COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of the Swiss Confederation sent 102 ventilators and 1.1 million Rapid Antigen Test Kits to Thailand during the official visit of H.E. Mr. Ignazio Cassis, the Vice President and Head of Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, in August 2021.
Furthermore, both countries had a long-standing relationship for over 300 years and this year was remarked the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations. There had been continually exchanging visits in both government and private sectors. The parliamentary relations of the two countries had been close and cordial. This was the first time in the history that the heads of legislative branches of the two countries had an official visit, which would strengthen the relations and create the network of cooperation in legislative branch. Moreover, both countries established the Parliamentarians’ Friendship Groups in order to exchange information and joint activities to strengthen legislative relations.
Regarding trading and investment relations, The President of the Senate was glad that the Swiss Confederation had been the second important trading partner in Europe of Thailand and Thailand had also been the second important trading partner in South East Asia of the Swiss Confederation. The President of the Senate hoped that both countries would increase trading and investment cooperation. Thailand focuses on food industry and food innovation that Switzerland is well-known for, as well as, infrastructures and tourism. Besides he expressed his pleasure that Thailand and Switzerland had economic cooperation, such as, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) which was an important mechanism for expanding trading and investment opportunities of both countries. Moreover, Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) would also give a privilege to the investors.
The President of the Senate also added that this visit would be important for expanding cooperation in all aspects. Especially, Benedikt Würth, Senator who would be appointed as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) next year, had also joint the visit. Therefore, this would be a great opportunity that both countries would discuss on how to develop the relations between Thailand and the EFTA, which would greatly benefit Thailand’s economy. He also hoped that both countries would cooperate in tackling climate change, promoting clean energy and developing sustainable concept as per Thailand’s concept of Bio-Circular-Green Economy.
Regarding the educational cooperation, it was delightful that Thailand and Switzerland had strong cooperation in various branches, such as, in hotel and tourism, and trainings on hotel for underprivileged children. There would also be a cooperation to establish Vocational Excellence Center in the fields that Switzerland had expertise, such as, hotel management and services, as well as, vocational program on watch technicians. Regarding tourism, hopefully, after the COVID-19 situation resolves, there should be more tourists visiting between both countries. Therefore, the tourism cooperation between both countries should be promoted more for the benefits in economy and cultural exchange.
In the meeting, Professor Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, the President of the Senate, welcomed the President of the Council of States of the Swiss Confederation and the delegation and expressed confidence that this visit would strengthen the relations between Thailand and the Swiss Confederation especially on legislative branch. The President of the Senate also expressed gratitude that the Swiss Confederation had been a great friend to Thailand. Especially during COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of the Swiss Confederation sent 102 ventilators and 1.1 million Rapid Antigen Test Kits to Thailand during the official visit of H.E. Mr. Ignazio Cassis, the Vice President and Head of Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, in August 2021.
Furthermore, both countries had a long-standing relationship for over 300 years and this year was remarked the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations. There had been continually exchanging visits in both government and private sectors. The parliamentary relations of the two countries had been close and cordial. This was the first time in the history that the heads of legislative branches of the two countries had an official visit, which would strengthen the relations and create the network of cooperation in legislative branch. Moreover, both countries established the Parliamentarians’ Friendship Groups in order to exchange information and joint activities to strengthen legislative relations.
Regarding trading and investment relations, The President of the Senate was glad that the Swiss Confederation had been the second important trading partner in Europe of Thailand and Thailand had also been the second important trading partner in South East Asia of the Swiss Confederation. The President of the Senate hoped that both countries would increase trading and investment cooperation. Thailand focuses on food industry and food innovation that Switzerland is well-known for, as well as, infrastructures and tourism. Besides he expressed his pleasure that Thailand and Switzerland had economic cooperation, such as, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) which was an important mechanism for expanding trading and investment opportunities of both countries. Moreover, Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) would also give a privilege to the investors.
The President of the Senate also added that this visit would be important for expanding cooperation in all aspects. Especially, Benedikt Würth, Senator who would be appointed as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) next year, had also joint the visit. Therefore, this would be a great opportunity that both countries would discuss on how to develop the relations between Thailand and the EFTA, which would greatly benefit Thailand’s economy. He also hoped that both countries would cooperate in tackling climate change, promoting clean energy and developing sustainable concept as per Thailand’s concept of Bio-Circular-Green Economy.
Regarding the educational cooperation, it was delightful that Thailand and Switzerland had strong cooperation in various branches, such as, in hotel and tourism, and trainings on hotel for underprivileged children. There would also be a cooperation to establish Vocational Excellence Center in the fields that Switzerland had expertise, such as, hotel management and services, as well as, vocational program on watch technicians. Regarding tourism, hopefully, after the COVID-19 situation resolves, there should be more tourists visiting between both countries. Therefore, the tourism cooperation between both countries should be promoted more for the benefits in economy and cultural exchange.
The President of the Senate emphasized that the Senate would be willing to closely cooperate with the Council of States of the Swiss Confederation in many aspects for the mutual benefits of the two countries.
The President of the Council of States of the Swiss Confederation thanked the President of the Senate for the warm welcome during the COVID-19 situation. He hoped that this visit would strengthen the cooperation in politics and trading. He was also glad to closely cooperate with Thailand in supporting the relations of both parliaments and continually developing the relations.
During the official visit to Thailand, the President of the Council of States of the Swiss Confederation and the Delegation also had appointments with other important persons of Thailand including the President of the National Assembly, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, the Minister of Transport, and visited Swiss Community in Thailand.
The President of the Council of States of the Swiss Confederation thanked the President of the Senate for the warm welcome during the COVID-19 situation. He hoped that this visit would strengthen the cooperation in politics and trading. He was also glad to closely cooperate with Thailand in supporting the relations of both parliaments and continually developing the relations.
During the official visit to Thailand, the President of the Council of States of the Swiss Confederation and the Delegation also had appointments with other important persons of Thailand including the President of the National Assembly, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, the Minister of Transport, and visited Swiss Community in Thailand.
----------------------------------------
