Thailand and France have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation, following a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
On May 25, 2026, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, hosted a dinner for Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and his delegation at the Palais de l’Elysée in Paris, French Republic.
Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, Government Spokesperson, summarized the key discussion points: On promoting trade and investment, both the French President and the Thai Prime Minister agreed to jointly enhance the value of bilateral trade and investment, especially in high-value industries such as alternative energy, aerospace and aviation, smart grid transmission, as well as infrastructure for AI and Data Centers, which are future industries where French private firms have high expertise and potential.
After discussions with MEDEF International (the overseas branch of the French Employers’ Association) and leading French businesses, several companies expressed interest in investing or expanding their investments in Thailand. Meanwhile, the French side praised investments by Thai private enterprises in France and would like to see an increase in Thai investment there.
The negotiation of the Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement (Thailand-EU FTA) is one of the key policies of the Thai government, which aims to conclude negotiations within this year. The Prime Minister thanked France for its continuous support in the negotiation process and believes that this agreement will be an important turning point, creating economic opportunities for both countries.
In addition, both sides agreed to elevate cooperation in security towards cybersecurity, as both are participants in the Cobra Gold military exercise. Cooperation on security and cybersecurity will be expanded, aligning with government policy to seek international collaboration to suppress scammers and online threats, after having successfully prosecuted, extradited suspects, and confiscated illegal assets on a considerable scale.
Regarding Thailand’s situation with Cambodia and Myanmar, the Prime Minister affirmed Thailand’s commitment to sovereignty, peace, and international law. The decision to terminate MOU 44 was due to a lack of progress over nearly 25 years, so Thailand opted to apply international law—UNCLOS—under bilateral discussions. For land border issues, actions will follow the joint statement signed at the end of last year, and Cambodia is expected to demonstrate its sincerity.
On this occasion, both parties will proceed with the Joint Action Plan to strengthen the Thai-French Partnership for 2026-2028, which marks a significant step in elevating bilateral relations toward a strategic partnership.
