Thailand and Australia re-launches New Colombo Plan
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Thailand and Australia on Friday re-launched the New Colombo Plan in Bangkok to strengthen the trading and interpersonal relationship between both countries, Foreign ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said.
The ceremony was presided over by Thai Foreign Minister Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn and his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop who is visiting Thailand as the guest of Thai foreign ministry.
The project sends Australian undergraduate students to countries in the Asia-Pacific and Indian ocean regions for tertiary study, development of international friendships, and enhancement of the good relationship between neighboring countries. The project was re-introduced in 2014, with Thailand as a member state of the New Colombo Plan that has been extended to involve more countries. It is expected that the plan will strengthen the long standing relationships between Australia and other Indo-Pacific countries.
Both ministers also discussed other issues including social, economic, and public policies, as well as the relationship between Thailand and Australia.
Australia has downgraded Thailand after then Army Chief Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha staged a coup in May last year.
In a joint statement of Bishop and Defence Minister David Johnson, they said “ The Australian government said it had postponed three activities with the Thai military and would prevent the leaders of the coup from traveling to Australia as it continues to have “grave concerns” about the military's actions in Thailand.
“In line with our concerns, Australia is reducing our engagement with the Thai military and will lower the level of our interaction with the Thai military leadership.”
