Thailand and the Philippines said a series of high-level visits, business-to-business cooperation, cultural performances and community events will take place in the coming months as both countries celebrate 75 years of formal bilateral relations.
Vorapun Srivoranart, deputy director-general for East Asian Affairs Department of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said on Friday the Philippines is now Thailand's fifth largest trading partner in Asean, with a total trade volume worth US$10 billion (356 billion baht) last year.
"Thailand is a market of over 70 million people, while the Philippines is a market of more than a hundred million people. The key challenge is how to make our two countries and economies even closer on our front and fully exploit the potential in our two countries," he said.
"We will see an increase in two way trade in the coming year in areas like the digital economy and green development," he said.
"Our countries are also working on increasing the traffic of people travelling between Thailand and the Philippines," he added.
"We welcome more Filipino tourists to Thailand and we support more Thais to explore the natural and cultural beauties of the Philippines," he said.
Millicent Cruz Peredes, Ambassador of the Philippines to Thailand, said: "the Philippines and Thailand have carefully nurtured our friendship".
"Our relation is deepened by being part of the Asean family, and both countries stand firmly on our shared commitment in promoting peace, development and stability in the region," she said.
"Moving Forward to a New Era of Closer Friendship and Common Prosperity" is the theme for the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Thailand–Philippines diplomatic relations.