BANGKOK (Bernama): Thailand and the United Kingdom will forge a Strategic Partnership, reaffirming their commitment to enhancing collaboration in various areas such as economy, trade, investment, climate change, and agriculture.

In a statement, Foreign Ministry said Thailand and the United Kingdom will formally announce their relationship as a Strategic Partnership during the visit of Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, to Thailand on Wednesday.

"The foreign ministers of the two countries will sign "Thailand-UK Strategic Partnership Roadmap”, to reaffirm their shared commitment to promoting comprehensive cooperation in eight key areas,” it said.

The eight key areas are economy, trade, and investment; politics, parliament and multilateralism; security and defence; climate change, energy, green economy, and sustainable development; agriculture, digital, science, technology and innovation, public health, and people-to-people relations, education and soft power.

The United Kingdom is Thailand's first strategic partner in Europe.

Thailand and the United Kingdom have close and longstanding relations that span for almost two centuries. Thr two countries will celebrate the 170th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations next year.

Meanwhile, Lord Cameron will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday.

The former British Prime Minister will held a bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara.

"The meetings aim to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, security and defence; science, technology and innovation (STI); climate change; tourism; and cultural exchange,” MFA said in a statement. - Bernama