H.E. Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany and his spouse, will pay an official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand between 24 and 26 January 2024 upon the invitation of H.E. Mr. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand. The President will be accompanied by the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Federal Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Federal Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and German business delegation. During the visit, the German President will have a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister and other relevant ministers. There will be a Joint Press Conference and a luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister in honour of the German President, his spouse, and the German delegation at the Government House.

On the occasion of this official visit, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty Queen Sutthida will graciously grant the President and his spouse a Royal Audience at Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall in Dusit Palace. During the visit, the President will visit the Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing (Thailand) in Samut Prakan province which is a regional manufacturing base for automobiles and electric vehicles (EV) with high-tech infrastructure and skilled workers. Furthermore, the President will visit the Hydro-Floating Solar Hybrid Project at Sirindhorn Dam in Ubon Ratchathani, a world leading solar-wind hybrid power plant operated by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Through such high renewable energy production, Thailand is set to achieve its Carbon Neutrality Goal by 2050. In Ubon Ratchathani province, the President and his delegation will visit the Inclusive Sustainable Rice Landspace Project in Amphoe Trakan Phuet Phon and Pha Taem National Park in Amphoe Khong Chiam, while in Bangkok, the President and delegation will visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).

This official visit is President Steinmeier’s first visit to Thailand since taking his office in 2022 and Thailand’s first official visit by Head of a foreign Government under the current Thai administration. The last German Presidential visit to Thailand was in 2002 by H.E. Mr. Johannes Rau, the former President of the Federal Republic of Germany. The German President’s upcoming visit will provide a great opportunity for Thailand and Germany to further strengthen their partnership in politics as well as trade and investment between their business sectors. Additionally, it will open new avenues to advance cooperation in areas of mutual interests, based on shared values and principles, including cooperation in response to the global challenges in both bilateral and regional platforms. The expansive cooperation in strategic areas as well as strong people-to-people ties will pave the way for both countries to elevate “Thai-German Strategic Partnership” relations in the future.

picture credits: Bundesregierung/Steffen Kugler