Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus M.Ryzhenkov pays an official visit to Thailand

On July 16, 2025 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov, paid his first official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand.

The head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry held negotiations with the President of the National Assembly of Thailand, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha. The discussions focused on the development of trade relations, geopolitical instability and the need to join forces to overcome the challenges facing the international trading system.

Maxim Ryzhenkov noted the historical significance of the visit, emphasising Thailand's strategic potential as a reliable partner of Belarus in Southeast Asia. In the context of strengthening interparliamentary cooperation, he conveyed an official invitation to visit our country from the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, Igor Sergeenko, and proposed the creation of parliamentary friendship groups in both countries.

Chairman Nor Matha confirmed the invitation previously sent to the head of the lower house of the Belarusian parliament, expressing his readiness to personally visit Belarus and promote the formation of a friendship group. He also noted his intention to contribute to the intensification of Belarusian-Thai relations at the legislative level.

In the same vein, the parties expressed interest in the early signing of agreements on a visa-free regime and the organisation of direct air links.

Nor Matha also welcomed the upcoming signing of a memorandum between the governments of Belarus and Thailand on the establishment of a Joint Belarusian-Thai Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation as an important step towards a free trade agreement between the EAEU and Thailand.

During the negotiations with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Maris Sangiampongsa, the parties focused on practical cooperation in the field of business and humanitarian contacts. Maxim Ryzhenkov invited his Thai colleague to make a historic visit to Belarus. The Thai Minister confirmed his intention to visit our country in the near future.

Practical measures were discussed, ranging from the formalisation of agreements on a visa-free regime and the launch of direct air links to joint work on a comprehensive free trade agreement. The Thai side emphasised its readiness to complete work on the visa and air transport projects with a view to signing them in the near future.

Attention was paid to issues of investment cooperation, food security (exchange of experience in dairy and meat livestock farming), as well as mutual supplies: agricultural machinery, equipment and food products from Belarus; and fruits, vegetables, nuts, textiles and rubber from Thailand.

For a more detailed look at the capabilities of Belarusian industry, Minister Ryzhenkov invited the Thai delegation to participate in the Belagro exhibition. In preparation for the signing of the memorandum, Minister Sangiampongsa proposed that the bilateral committee established on its basis be headed by the heads of foreign ministries, which would increase its effectiveness.

Thailand separately expressed its readiness to promote deeper cooperation between Belarus and ASEAN.

During a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Commerce of Thailand, Chantawit Tantasith, the parties emphasised the fundamental role of economic dialogue. Minister Ryzhenkov stressed the need to launch the activities of the Joint Belarusian-Thai Committee as soon as possible. The Thai side, in turn, expressed interest in removing trade barriers and expanding partnership, and also noted the complementarity of the two countries' economies.

Following the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on the establishment of a Joint Belarusian-Thai Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

For reference. The signing of the Memorandum will create a bilateral mechanism designed to become the institutional basis for regular Belarusian-Thai dialogue on cooperation in trade, economic, humanitarian and other areas of mutual interest, as well as an intergovernmental instrument for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of agreements reached.

The historic visit of the Belarusian Foreign Minister to Thailand has opened up new horizons for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres.

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