On 20 June 2024, the Royal Thai Embassy in Madrid jointly organized the 2nd Spain-Thailand Forum, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA) and the International Studies Center) and Casa Asia (agency under the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation) at the conference center in the Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez, Madrid. The seminar included three topics, as follows:
(1) Geopolitics: Maritime Security and Cooperation (Thai speakers: Dr. Anuson Chinvanno, Director of the International Studies Center, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jittipat Poonkham, Associate Dean for Academic and International Affairs, Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University)
(2) Innovation in the field of Renewable Energies (Thai speaker: Mr. Tawatchai Sumranwanich, Deputy Governor – Strategy, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and Mr. Marty Sinthavanarong, Head of International Business, Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited (GULF))
(3) Promotion of Country’s Branding: best practices from Spain and Thailand (Thai speakers: Dr. Ake Pattaratanakun, Board Member, Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization) and Mr. Wason Homsangpradit, Chief Executive Officer of Hollywood (Thailand) Company)
All three topics are potential areas, in which Thailand and Spain can cooperate or exchange good practices.
In addition, on 21 June 2024, H.E. Mr. Vosita Vorasaph, Ambassador of Thailand to Spain, joined the Thai delegation at the 6th Thailand-Spain Political Consultations, attended by Mrs. Krongkanit Rakcharoen, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, as head of the Thai delegation, and Mr. Carlos Moreno, Director-General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, as head of the Spanish delegation. The meeting was held back-to-back with the 2nd Spain-Thailand Forum.
During the visit to Madrid, the delegation from Thailand also attended study tours and met with Spanish agencies, including (1) the Diplomatic School of Spain (2) the Renewable Energy Control Center of ACCIONA (3) Elcano Royal Institute and (4) the organizer of the Asian Moving Images Festival Madrid, to discuss opportunities for cooperation between Thailand and Spain in areas of mutual interest.