New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to go on a three-day official trip to Thailand next week, as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This will be the first time in 11 years that a New Zealand Prime Minister will visit Thailand. For his trip on April 16-18, he will be joined by Simon Watts, the Minister for Climate Change, and Paulo Garcia, a Member of Parliament, along with concerned officials and representatives from the private sector.
During the visit, Luxon will have a one-on-one meeting with his Thai counterpart, Srettha Thavisin. Both countries are expected to sign several agreements to enhance their relations and cooperation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Luxon's visit offers an opportunity for both countries to strengthen their cooperation in various areas, particularly in defense and security, economy, clean energy, innovation, education, culture, and people-to-people cooperation.
Last year, the trade volume between the two countries was about US$2.2 billion. Thailand mainly imports dairy products, fruits, and vegetables, while New Zealand imports air conditioners, auto and computer parts, and rubber.
The total value of New Zealand’s investment in Thailand was only US$175 million. Currently, there are no major Thai investment projects there.
Around 90,000 tourists from New Zealand visited Thailand last year, while only 8,000 Thais visited New Zealand. At present, there are 13,000 Thais living in New Zealand as blue-collar workers and laborers, including 3,000 students.
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