Bangkok, December 23, 2025 – The Europe Today: Kazakhstan and Thailand have reviewed the steady growth of their political relations and explored new opportunities to expand cooperation in trade, investment and digital sectors during high-level talks held in Bangkok, the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Thailand, Margulan Baimukhan, met on December 18 with Eksiri Pintaruchi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. The meeting focused on the current state and future prospects of bilateral relations, with both sides noting the high level of trust and the positive dynamics of cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Baimukhan подчеркнул that Kazakhstan and Thailand have established a solid political dialogue, supported by regular exchanges of visits and the continuous expansion of the legal framework. Over the past two years, the two countries have signed agreements on visa-free travel, trade and economic cooperation, as well as memorandums covering digitalization, tourism, agriculture and international development.
Both sides expressed mutual interest in further strengthening political contacts and expanding cooperation in 2026, stressing the importance of enhancing interagency coordination across key areas of the bilateral agenda.
Economic cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. Kazakhstan remains Thailand’s largest trading partner in Central Asia, accounting for approximately 70 per cent of Thailand’s trade with the region. The parties reviewed opportunities to expand trade in agriculture, mechanical engineering, energy and tourism.
The Kazakh side highlighted significant export potential in grain and meat supplies, particularly in the context of Thailand’s initiative to develop a regional food hub. The two sides also emphasized the need to finalize agreements on investment protection, the avoidance of double taxation, and veterinary and plant quarantine regulations.
Cooperation in subsoil use and rare-earth metals was identified as a priority area. Kazakhstan, which holds substantial reserves of strategic raw materials, proposed exploring joint projects to meet Thailand’s growing demand for high-tech inputs.
Digital cooperation was also discussed as a key area for future collaboration, including digital trade, fintech, cloud technologies, cybersecurity and smart logistics. Ambassador Baimukhan presented Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish a UN ESCAP Digital Solutions Center in Almaty.
Transport connectivity was noted as an important pillar of the partnership. Currently, 23 direct flights per week operate between Kazakhstan and Thailand, served by Air Astana, SCAT Airlines and Thai AirAsia X. The launch of the Shymkent–Bangkok route in December has further strengthened tourism and logistical links. The parties also highlighted the potential of the Middle Corridor and future multimodal transport connections linked to the China–Laos–Thailand railway project.
The ambassador acknowledged the growing number of tourists from Kazakhstan visiting Thailand and expressed appreciation for the support provided in opening the Consulate of Kazakhstan in Phuket, with its official inauguration scheduled for January 2026.
The two sides reaffirmed their aligned positions on major international issues and their readiness to enhance cooperation within multilateral frameworks.
Concluding the meeting, Ambassador Margulan Baimukhan emphasized that Kazakhstan views Thailand as a key partner in Southeast Asia and remains committed to deepening political dialogue and expanding mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
