Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, have signed the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership, elevating Thailand-New Zealand relations to a higher level, as part of Prime Minister Anutin’s official visit to New Zealand on 20-22 August 2026.

The joint declaration was signed on 21 August at Government House in Auckland. Following a plenary session, the two prime ministers attended a joint press conference, where Prime Minister Anutin delivered a statement to the media as follows: 

“It is a great honour and pleasure to be here in New Zealand on an official visit as we celebrate a major milestone, the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and New Zealand. 

“Today marks a new chapter in our longstanding friendship. Prime Minister Luxon and I sign the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership, elevating Thailand New Zealand relations to an even higher level.

“We have also concluded a productive meeting, joined by key Ministers from both sides. Our discussions focused on four key pillars under the Joint Plan of Action for 2026–2030, which will serve as a roadmap for translating our Strategic Partnership into tangible benefits for our peoples.

“First, political and security cooperation. We agreed to strengthen cooperation in addressing transnational crime, online scams, and trafficking in persons, while promoting closer coordination and information exchange between our law enforcement agencies.

“Second, economic, trade and innovation cooperation. We agreed to expand trade and investment, with particular emphasis on innovation, food and energy security, the green economy, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection. We have set an ambitious goal of tripling our two-way trade by 2045 to 7.5 US billion dollars and will work to further enhance the Thailand–New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership, or TNZCEP, to create new opportunities for businesses and our peoples.

“I am pleased that leading Thai business executives have joined this visit and engaged with the New Zealand Government and business community, creating valuable opportunities to explore new areas of cooperation and strengthen business-to-business linkages.

"Third, education, culture and people-to people links. We agreed to deepen cooperation in education, skills development, innovation and capacity building, while strengthening cultural and people-to-people connections.

“Fourth, regional and multilateral cooperation. We will work more closely through Mekong cooperation frameworks, ASEAN-led mechanisms, APEC and other international fora. We also exchanged views on regional and international developments and reaffirmed the importance of a rules-based international order and multilateralism in promoting peace, stability, resilience and sustainable development. 

“Prime Minister Luxon and I also witnessed the signing of the Arrangement on Cultural Cooperation and the MOU between Thailand’s Office of the Civil Service Commission and Education New Zealand. I also welcome the MOU to strengthen vocational education cooperation signed earlier this month. 

“As we celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations, we look forward to an even stronger partnership. I am particularly delighted that Thai Airways plans to resume direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland, targeted for March 2027. This renewed connectivity will support tourism, trade, business, education and people-to-people exchanges.

“Over seven decades, the friendship between Thailand and New Zealand has grown steadily. With our relations now elevated to a Strategic 5 Partnership, I am confident that our ties will become closer, deeper and more dynamic, delivering lasting benefits and prosperity for our peoples and our region.”