On Tuesday, 23 June 2026, the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, hosted a special lecture for 35 students from the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands, in Meeting Room 3 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The programme aimed to enhance the participants' understanding of Thailand's foreign policy and also to provide insights into Thailand's role in international development cooperation.

                    During the first session, Ms. Chonvipat Changtrakul, Minister Counsellor, and Ms. Geerachna Hongsakornpraserd, Third Secretary, Office of Policy and Planning, delivered a lecture entitled "Thailand's Foreign Policy and Diplomatic Priorities" It provided an overview of the evolving global geopolitical landscape, highlighting the transition towards a multipolar world order and together with emerging non-traditional security challenges. The speakers also outlined the key characteristics of Thailand’s foreign policy, which emphasizes maintaining balanced and friendly international relations, leveraging Thailand’s strategic geographic location to advance the country’s role and national interests on the international stage, and upholding ASEAN Centrality. In addition, they underscored the more than 422 years of longstanding relations between Thailand and the Netherlands, as well as the two countries’ close cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, and investment.

                    The second session featured Ms. Chidchanok Malayawong, Director of the Development Promotion and Coordination Division, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), who delivered a lecture entitled "The Role of Thailand’s International Cooperation Agency (TICA) in Promoting International Development Cooperation." She outlined Thailand's transformation from a recipient of development assistance to an international development partner and also explained TICA's role in advancing development cooperation in line with Thailand's foreign policy and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through bilateral, triangular, and multilateral cooperation frameworks. The presentation also highlighted TICA's key mechanisms, including training programmes, scholarships, the deployment of Thai experts and volunteers, and the sharing of Thailand's development expertise in areas of comparative advantage. Examples of collaborative projects with partner countries and international organizations were also given, demonstrating Thailand's growing contribution to international development.

                    Following the lectures, the students actively participated in a lively question-and-answer session. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, including Thailand's "Bamboo Diplomacy" approach to foreign policy, the role of Thailand's creative economy and soft power in promoting the country's image, practical approaches to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and perspectives among Thai people of Chinese descent on Thailand–China relations. The participants also expressed a keen interest in Thailand's role as an international development partner and in providing opportunities for future cooperation.

                    At the conclusion of the programme, a student representative expressed their sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the speakers, and the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs for organizing this special lecture. The programme provided participants with a broader understanding of Thailand's foreign policy, the country's role on the global stage, and its contributions to international development cooperation.