Marcos lauds Thai envoy

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed his gratitude towards the outgoing Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Tull Traisorat enhancing bilateral ties between the Philippines and Thailand.

In Trasorat’s farewell call to the President, Marcos noted the cooperation between Manila and Bangkok especially the post-pandemic recovery as well as the significant progress in exchanging economic policies, and diplomatic engagements.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for everything you have done to bring our countries closer. Thailand and the Philippines have forged many new agreements and many new alliances in the past years,” Marcos said.

For his part, the Thai diplomat said he appreciated a “very fruitful and rewarding” time in the country.

The two neighboring countries have signed 54 bilateral agreements covering various sectors, including air services, agriculture, the abolition of entry visas, tourism and technical, scientific and cultural cooperation. 

In addition, both countries also agreed on illicit trafficking prevention, trade and industry, and defense logistics.

In 2023, Thailand was one of the Philippines’ key trade partners, ranking as the seventh-largest trading partner, eighth-largest export market, and sixth-largest import supplier.

Total trade between the two nations in 2023 amounted to $10.81 billion, with $2.93 billion in Philippine exports and $7.87 billion in imports. That same year, remittances from overseas Filipino workers in Thailand reached $64.72 million. As of October 2023, there were 32,950 Filipinos living and working in Thailand.

In 2025, the Philippines and Thailand will celebrate 76 years of diplomatic ties. The two countries established diplomatic relations on 14 June 1949.