• OPINION

  Repatriation of Thais needs ramping up

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 12/05/2020

  » In recent weeks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has accelerated efforts to bring Thai citizens stranded overseas back home. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the one issue that has tarnished the Thai government's positive image both inside and outside the country has been the stringent measures adopted by the Prayut administration with regard to the repatriation of Thais stuck overseas.

• OPINION

  What joining OECD means to Thailand

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 02/04/2024

  » Thailand's bid to become a member of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) could be extremely challenging owing to the ever-changing geopolitical landscape, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Since the release of the OECD's Indo-Pacific Strategic Framework last year, the Paris-based intergovernmental organisation has been doubling its efforts to woo more members from the region. Both the region's No.1 and No.2 economies, Indonesia and Thailand, are high on the list.

• OPINION

  Durian powers Sino-Thai friendship

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 04/07/2023

  » When it comes to the evolution of Sino-Thai relations, one must put aside all the geopolitical determinants and even such subjects as the current Russia-Ukraine war, the ramifications of the US-China standoff and tourism. The topic is durian, which serves as the weathervane of their long-standing bilateral ties. The durian, known worldwide as the "King of Fruits", is more than just a sticky, thorny and, yes, smelly fruit; they also define the nature of the five-decade-old Sino-Thai relations.

• OPINION

  What will Asean be like come 2045?

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 04/04/2023

  » It is now official: the Asean Community's Post 2025 vision will be extended by another ten years from 2035 to 2045. Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn revealed the 20-year vision in Bangkok last week, much to the surprise of diplomats and the local audience. The decision was taken at the 7th meeting of the High-Level Task Force on the Asean Community's Post-2025 Vision (HLTF-ACV) in March 19-20 in Belitung, Indonesia.

• OPINION

  Asean and Myanmar: The next moves

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 07/02/2023

  » Last week, the new Asean chair, Indonesia, convened the first two important meetings -- the Asean Coordinating Council and Asean Foreign Ministers' Retreat -- to discuss and follow up on ongoing and emerging issues that have to do with the relevancy of Asean and its centrality.

• OPINION

  Why Thailand abstained in UNGA vote

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 25/10/2022

  » After Thailand abstained from voting at the UN General Assembly on Oct 12 before the 11th Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly, the country was bombarded with comments, mainly negative, over its decision. The other 34 countries that took a similar stand were not in the news because they were expected to do precisely that.

• OPINION

  Rising S Korea deepens ties with Asean

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 20/09/2022

  » To witness the dynamism of South Korea's rise and its relationship with Asean and each bloc member, it is important to attend the reception marking the national day of Vietnam.

• OPINION

  Time to strategise Thai-Philippine ties

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 05/07/2022

  » Newly elected Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai soon after being sworn in. It was his first meeting with a dignitary from Asean though he had earlier met with representatives from the US, China and Japan. Suddenly, the old flame of friendship between Thailand and the Philippines was being rekindled.

• OPINION

  Japan pushes new diplomatic profile

  Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 26/04/2022

  » During Golden Week, around the first week of May, Japanese politicians will usually spend time at home with their constituencies and families. Not the prime minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, however. He knows full well that as the world's third-largest economy, Japan's wider diplomatic and security profile in the era of great disruption with the Russia-Ukraine war must be underlined. No time to waste.

• OPINION

  Can Hun Manet deliver in the top job?

  News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 14/12/2021

  » It has taken Prime Minister Hun Sen almost a decade to announce his political successor, which he did on Dec 2. At first, he has in mind at least four choices -- the first pair comprising his two sons, Hun Manet and Hun Many and the second pair of senior colleagues, Sar Kheng and Say Chumm of Cambodia People's Party. Then, he decided to focus on the first pair.

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