Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will visit New Zealand from August 20 to 22 to formally launch a strategic partnership. The visit will focus on trade, investment, education, security and stronger business ties.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is set to make an official visit to New Zealand from August 20 to 22, where the two countries will formally launch the New Zealand-Thailand Strategic Partnership. The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Anutin will be accompanied by a delegation of Thai business representatives, with trade and investment expected to be central to the visit. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the two countries share a goal of tripling two-way trade by 2045.
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During the visit, the two prime ministers are expected to sign a Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership. They will also see accords that seek to enhance economic and social security and cooperation in education, culture and policing.
Thailand's total bilateral trade to and from New Zealand stood at almost NZ$4.8 billion during the past year (to March 2026), with a corresponding value of NZ$1.6 billion of New Zealand exports. Thailand is New Zealand's no. 8 trading partner and New Zealand is one of Thailand's major trading partners.
The two countries also agree to increase B-B interaction, with Anutin to join a business roundtable with local businesses from both countries. The trade, investment and economic cooperation opportunities will be discussed to expand.
The relationship extends beyond commerce. Thailand and New Zealand cooperate in education, tourism, technology, agriculture and regional security. Areas identified for future collaboration include agri-tech, smart farming, food technology, renewable energy, precision medicine and digital technology.
Education remains another important link. Thailand was New Zealand's fifth-largest source of international students in 2024, with around 2,840 enrolments, while an estimated 13,000 Thai nationals live in New Zealand.
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Security cooperation is also expected to feature during the visit, particularly efforts to address transnational crime and regional stability. The two governments have previously worked together through regional and multilateral institutions.
The visit marks Anutin's first official trip to New Zealand as prime minister and the first visit by a Thai prime minister to the country in 13 years. It follows New Zealand's efforts to deepen engagement with Thailand, including Prime Minister Luxon's official visit to Bangkok in 2024.
The strategic partnership is expected to provide a broader framework for expanding trade, investment, education, security and people-to-people connections between Thailand and New Zealand.