Kazakhstan and Thailand are giving fresh momentum to their partnership, reviewing steadily growing political ties and identifying new opportunities to expand trade, investment, and digital cooperation during high-level talks in Bangkok.
Ambassador Margulan Baimukhan met with Eksiri Pintaruchi, Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussions confirmed a high level of trust between the two countries and a shared commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.
The Kazakh diplomat noted that Astana and Bangkok have built a solid political dialogue supported by regular exchanges of visits and an expanding legal framework. Over the past two years alone, the sides have signed agreements on visa-free travel, trade and economic cooperation, as well as memorandums covering digitalization, tourism, agriculture, and international development.
Both parties expressed interest in further strengthening political contacts and expanding cooperation in 2026, emphasizing the importance of closer interagency coordination across key areas of the bilateral agenda.
Economic cooperation featured prominently in the talks. Kazakhstan remains Thailand’s largest trading partner in Central Asia, accounting for about 70 per cent of Thailand’s trade with the region. The sides explored opportunities to boost trade in agriculture, mechanical engineering, energy, and tourism.
Kazakhstan highlighted its strong export potential in grain and meat supplies, especially in light of Thailand’s ambition to become a regional food hub. The meeting also underscored the importance of finalizing agreements on investment protection, avoidance of double taxation, and veterinary and plant quarantine regulations.
Cooperation in subsoil use and rare-earth metals was identified as another priority area. With significant reserves of strategic raw materials, Kazakhstan proposed exploring joint projects to meet Thailand’s rising demand for high-tech inputs.
Digital cooperation is also gaining traction, with both sides discussing digital trade, fintech, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, and smart logistics. Kazakhstan presented its initiative to establish a UN ESCAP Digital Solutions Center in Almaty.
Transport connectivity was highlighted as a key driver of closer ties. Currently, 23 direct flights per week connect the two countries, operated by Air Astana, SCAT Airlines, and Thai AirAsia X. The launch of the Shymkent-Bangkok route in December has further strengthened tourism and logistics links. The sides also pointed to the potential of the Middle Corridor and future multimodal routes linked to the China-Laos-Thailand railway.
Ambassador Baimukhan also welcomed the growing flow of tourists from Kazakhstan to Thailand and thanked the Thai side for its support in opening Kazakhstan’s Consulate in Phuket, with an official inauguration planned for January 2026.
Concluding the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their aligned positions on major international issues and readiness to expand cooperation on multilateral platforms. Ambassador Baimukhan noted that Kazakhstan views Thailand as a key partner in Southeast Asia and remains committed to deepening political dialogue and broadening economic cooperation.
