Canadian PM vows to back Thailand’s OECD bid
PUBLISHED : 25 Jun 2026 at 04:10
NEWSPAPER SECTION: News
WRITER: Post Reporters
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(Photo: 123RF)
(Photo: 123RF)
The Thai and Canadian prime ministers have discussed hastening the free trade agreement (FTA) with Ottawa’s pledge to support Thailand’s bid for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) membership, says government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul held a telephone conversation recently with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to congratulate him on assuming office and to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors.
Mr Carney extended his condolences following the passing of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati. He also invited Mr Anutin to visit Canada in the near future. The Thai premier, in turn, invited Mr Carney to pay an official visit to Thailand.
Both leaders welcomed growth in Thailand-Canada diplomatic relations, which this year marks their 65th anniversary. They agreed the milestone provides an opportunity to further expand cooperation in trade, investment, economic development and people-to-people exchanges.
During their talk, the two leaders agreed to advance cooperation in several key areas, Ms Rachada said.
On economic relations, both pledged to push forward negotiations on the Asean-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA) with the goal of concluding talks within this year. They also expressed support for exploring a future bilateral free trade agreement between Thailand and Canada.
They also agreed to strengthen security cooperation, including military collaboration and joint efforts to combat transnational crime, particularly online fraud and cyber-enabled scams.
Another major topic was Thailand’s bid to join the OECD. Mr Anutin said OECD membership remains a key government priority because it would help elevate Thailand’s legal, regulatory and public administration standards to align with international best practices.
Mr Carney commended Thailand’s commitment to the accession process and reaffirmed Canada’s full support for the country’s aspirations for OECD membership.
At the conclusion of the call, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close cooperation in all areas and expressed hope of meeting in person soon to further advance the Thailand-Canada partnership.
Officials said stronger bilateral ties would create new opportunities in economic development, security cooperation and the long-term well-being of the people of both countries.