On 9 August 2012, H.E. Mr. Rathakit Manathat, Ambassador of Thailand to Turkey, met with H.E. Mr. Ahmet Oğuz Çelikkol, Ambassador of Turkey to Thailand, in Bangkok after the conclusion of Thailand’s Annual Ambassadorial Meeting. The meeting was also attended by together with Ms. Wichulee Chotbenjakul, Second Secretary, from the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara, Mrs. Ayşe Inanç, First Secretary and head of Chancery, and Ms. Nesrin Gündoğan, Commercial Counselor, from the Turkish Mission in Bangkok.

H.E.Mr. Çelikkol informed H.E.Mr. Rathakit of welcoming news that H.E.Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Turkish Foreign Minister, had extended an invitation to H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to pay a visit to Turkey. The two Ambassadors also congratulated on Turkey’s recent announcement on granting a visa free entry to Turkey for Thai citizens. H.E.Mr. Rathakit also raised the issue of Turkey’s enforcement of anti-dumping on Thai products and expressed his strong intention to solve the problem with Turkey urgently. Upon his return to Ankara, he will request for an appointment with the Turkish Minister of Economy to settle the issue, said H.E. Mr. Rathakit.

The Thai Ambassador also elaborated the Royal Thai Embassy’s plan of launching its “Mini Masjid” at the Embassy. Imam, diplomats in Ankara, Muslim Thai and foreign students in Ankara and NGOs will be invited to the opening ceremony.

The two later discussed on the political development in the region. They also emphasized the importance of relations between ASEAN and Turkey, especially when ASEAN will be integrated into the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.