On 27 November 2023, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), had a meeting with Mr. Tian Lin, Director General of Department of Supervision and Evaluation, China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), during the 5th Asia-Pacific Directors-General Forum for South-South and Triangular Cooperation at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok.

Both sides expressed their appreciation on the close and comprehensive relationship between both countries, and reaffirmed the role of Thailand as a Group of Friends (GoF) of Global Development Initiative (GDI) in early 2023, which was a significant milestone for CIDCA’s inclusive operating mechanism with a common goal to achieve the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Funded by GDI’s funding pool, the initiative has progressed so far as Member Countries proposed various development projects under the 1st Batch of GDI Project Pool, including 1 project from the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, aiming to training ASEAN personnel.

Regarding CIDCA’s invitation to join the Global Development Promotion Center Network (GDPC Network), the Director-General of TICA informed Mr. Tian that TICA is seeking comments from various agencies concerned, and is expected to inform the result of consideration in the near future. TICA, however, views that Thailand can utilise its GDPC Network membership to exchange good practices with China and the Member Countries.

The Director-General of TICA was pleased to learn that China places importance on Human Resource Development (HRD). They noted with satisfaction that both sides concluded the final draft of the Memorandum of Understanding on HRD between TICA and CIDCA, which is a great opportunity for Thailand to learn from China’s experience, particularly on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), while sharing good practices to the Mekong Sub-region and beyond, including Africa. In the present, the Thai side is in the process of seeking Cabinet’s approval, at which all the procedures are expected to be completed within this year. Mr. Tian, in this regard, expressed CIDCA’s readiness for a signing ceremony – which can be held in Thailand or China – with either Chairman or Vice Chairman of CIDCA will be the signee.

The Director-General of TICA express her appreciation to CIDCA’s invitation to CIDCA’s upcoming meetings, such as the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation (2023) to be held during 7-8 December 2023 in Kunming, and Sunshine Forum to be held in Beijing next year, which will be good opportunities to further discuss good practices on development cooperation.