Rewritten Article
Diplomats celebrate 75 years of Thailand-Indonesia diplomatic ties
Thailand and Indonesia are tightening their bonds to combat transnational crimes and promote regional peace and stability, with a significant focus on issues concerning Myanmar. The countries are looking forward to spearheading shared goals for a peaceful and prosperous Southeast Asia.
In strategic arenas like defense, economy, and people-to-people relations, both nations could craft a blueprint for sustaining regional tranquility and growth, believes Mirza Nurhidayat, Southeast Asian affairs director at Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA).
The urgency for collaboration, especially in addressing transnational crimes, was underlined by Mr. Nurhidayat during a public forum, "75 Years of Indonesia-Thailand Partnership: Fortifying Collaborative Forces for Regional Growth and Security." Hosted by the Institute of Security and International Studies and the Indonesian Embassy at Chulalongkorn University, the event took place on Wednesday.
Owing to the threat posed by scammers based in Myanmar, more than 600 Indonesians have suffered, as per Mr. Nurhidayat. However, the recent repatriation of Indonesian nationals by Thailand underscores their mutual endeavors to overcome such challenges. He suggests bolstering security cooperation, like countering tech abuse or sharing criminal case details, for future preventative measures.
Concerning Myanmar, Mr. Nurhidayat reaffirmed Indonesia's support for the five-point consensus - a strategic framework aimed at defusing conflicts in Myanmar, adopted by ASEAN in 2021. Encouraging Thailand to lend a hand in pushing this agenda, he envisioned that both countries could work together to propel the consensus forward, aspiring for lasting peace in Myanmar.
Beyond security, Mr. Nurhidayat underscored the importance of student exchange programs in deepening interpersonal ties and equipping workforces with much-needed skills. The trade between the two, however, lags behind expectations. Hence, both parties must explore promising business sectors to boost bilateral commerce while cultivating an inviting commercial climate.
Meanwhile, Suwit Mangkhala, the Thai MFA's ASEAN Affairs Department Deputy Director-General, applauded the long-standing relationship between both nations. This robust connection has resulted in significant ASEAN-level contributions, making ASEAN more influential on the world stage. In the current geopolitical climate, where ASEAN's role could be vital in bridging differences or mitigating gaps between great powers, this relationship may prove pivotal.
[1] https://www.asean.org/news/asean-officials-meet-to-strengthen-regional-stability-and-cohesion[2] https://the documents.co/thailand-indonesia-to-upgrade-bilateral-relations-to-strategic-partnership-in-2022[3] https://www.reuters.com/business/indonesia-raises-sympathy-for-myanmar-protesters-while-underlining-obligation-adhere-2021-02-09/[4] https://www.asean.org/press-release/joint-statement-of-the-asean-council-on-the-commemoration-of-the-75th-anniversary-of-the-founding-of-asean-and-the-future-of-asean/[5] https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2022/04/19/indonesia-donates-12-point6-million-usd-to-myanmar-after-earthquake.html
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
Thailand and Indonesia are pursuing joint initiatives to tackle transnational crimes and bolster regional harmony, with an emphasis on matters related to Myanmar.
Collaboration on Transnational Crimes
- Human Trafficking and Online Scams: Indonesia appreciates Thailand's contribution to repatriating Indonesian nationals who fell prey to online scams and human trafficking in Myanmar, symbolizing their joint efforts against transnational crimes.
- Protection of Citizens: Both countries emphasize their commitment to citizen protection and countering human trafficking. The strengthened cooperation within this framework serves to build upon their ambition to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership.
Regional Peace and Stability
- ASEAN's Role in Regional Stability: Indonesian and Thai officials have discussed the need to validate ASEAN's role in regional stability. They see ASEAN as a vital instrument for managing regional matters, including Myanmar's peace and resolution.
- Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar: Indonesia's humanitarian initiatives in Myanmar, such as providing aid after the March 2025 earthquake, have been lauded. These humanitarian efforts illustrate how Southeast Asian countries, like Indonesia and Thailand, can collaborate to resolve regional concerns.
- Upcoming Strategic Partnership: A budding strategic partnership between Thailand and Indonesia includes discussions on regional peace and stability. This partnership aims to enhance collaboration in commerce, investment, and strategic industrial cooperation, ultimately benefiting regional tranquility.
Future Cooperation
- Strategic Partnership Roadmap: A joint working group is finalizing a Strategic Partnership Roadmap that outlines crucial sectors for collaboration, including expanded market access and new sectors like green energy. Future collaborations may focus on resolving regional challenges through this framework.
- Leaders’ Consultation Mechanism: A proposed leaders' consultation mechanism between Indonesia and Thailand aims to ensure ongoing conversations between heads of government. This mechanism can facilitate more coordinated responses to regional challenges, including those surrounding Myanmar.
[1] The strategic partnership between Thailand and Indonesia is expected to focus on tackling transnational crimes, particularly human trafficking and online scams, following the recent repatriation of Indonesian victims from Myanmar by Thailand.
[2] Mirza Nurhidayat, the Southeast Asian affairs director at Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry, praised Thailand's role in regional stability and encouraged a closer collaboration within ASEAN to address Myanmar's conflicts, drawing from the five-point consensus adopted by the organization in 2021.
[3] In the domains of education and self-development, both countries should foster student exchange programs to nurture interpersonal ties and develop skilled workforces. However, bilateral trade between the two nations remains below expectations, necessitating exploration of promising business sectors and commercial climate improvement.
[4] With the increasing importance of ASEAN in bridging differences and mitigating gaps between great powers in the present geopolitical environment, the strong bond between Thailand and Indonesia can prove crucial in shaping future regional policies and decisions, boosting ASEAN's influence on the global stage.
[5] Meanwhile, scammers operating from Myanmar pose a significant threat to both countries, making the dismantling of their criminal networks and the sharing of criminal case details essential to prevent future victimization. Their cooperation in this area may help further strengthen their bilateral relationship and broader regional security.
