Between 16 to 18 August 2025, H.E. Mr. Paisan Rupanichkij, Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) for Foreign Affairs, together with Mr. Chulvat Narinthrangura, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Mr. Rutchabhoom Boonrawd, Minister at the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra, Ms. Sirindara Atthakor, Director of South Pacific Division, Department of American and South Pacific Affairs (ASPA), along with officials from TICA and ASPA, visited the Kingdom of Tonga to strengthen bilateral relations and advance development cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, H.E. Mr. Paisan Rupanichkij had an audience with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto‘a, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Tonga, who concurrently serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs. On this occasion, H.E. Mr. Paisan conveyed Thailand’s readiness to support cooperation with Tonga in all dimensions, particularly in the field of agriculture to enhance food security.

In addition, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand and his delegation handed over the Agricultural Development Cooperation Project based on the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, implemented within the premises of the Tongan Royal Palace. This project is a collaboration between the Royal Thai Government and the Government of Tonga initiated in 2014, and aims to serve as a learning center for agricultural practices guided by the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP).

The delegation also took this opportunity to meet with various agencies to learn and exchange information and experiences on development projects in Tonga. These included H.E. Mr. Hisao Inagaki, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga, together with representatives from the JICA Office in Tonga; Mr. Elisaia Sylvester Ika, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests of Tonga and Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry; and Ms. Naitilima Tupou, Secretary-General of the Tonga Chamber of Commerce.