On 21 May 2026, Mr. Chulvat Narinthrangura, Director-General of the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), welcomed and had a meeting with Prof. Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti, Ph.D., Vice President for Global Partnerships and University Council of Mahidol University, to discuss furthering partnership cooperation under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the "MFA-MU Enhancing Thailand Capacity Building Hub" project.  Mrs. Arunee Hiam, Deputy Director-General of TICA, and Ms. Chidchanok Malayawong, Director of the Development Promotion and Coordination Division, were also present along with relevant officials at the meeting room 2, TICA office.

Both sides discussed ways to build upon the successful outcomes of the April 2026 mission to the Independent State of Samoa and the Kingdom of Tonga.  During the mission, TICA provided essential medical equipment, while Mahidol University’s medical specialists successfully performed 32 urological surgeries, provided cardiac treatments, and conducted other major surgical procedures. The Thai side also provided hands-on training to Samoan healthcare personnel and conducted a capacity assessment of Tonga’s healthcare system.

​Furthermore, both sides explored ways of future collaboration, including the expansion of specialized medical cooperation in Tonga—specifically regarding renal diseases—the development of a high-value cocoa industry, and regional public health capacity building.  These initiatives are aimed at promoting Thailand's role as a regional development cooperation hub  and medical hub, including driving Thailand’s "medical diplomacy" toward more tangible and sustainable outcomes.