Bilateral relations
Diplomatic relations between Italy and Thailand—which celebrated their 155th anniversary in 2023—are based on mutual respect and friendship.
In Thailand, there are numerous testimonies of appreciation for our culture, understood in its broadest sense. From the buildings constructed in the 19th and 20th centuries by Italian architects to the founding of the Silpakorn University of Fine Arts—thanks to the Italian Corrado Feroci—from the numerous and diverse Italian restaurants throughout the country to the growing penetration of Italian food products, from the appreciation for our automobiles and motorcycles to the unstoppable visibility of Italian fashion creations, from cinema to music, from scientific to industrial and commercial collaboration, the opportunities for encounters between our two countries are growing.
According to the latest data released by the Thai Ministry of Tourism, approximately 268,000 Italian tourists arrived in the country in 2024 (compared to 192,000 in 2023). This trend puts the Asian country on track to achieve the tourism growth targets set after the post-Covid recovery. The Embassy processes over 35,000 visas for Thai citizens each year (ranking it the tenth largest Italian consular representation in the world – in terms of number of visas issued by accredited countries).
Commercial activity – from a systemic perspective – is managed jointly with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the Italian-Thai Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, in 2015, an Italy-Thailand Business Forum was established at the initiative of the Embassy, which annually brings together high-level companies interested in deepening bilateral trade and investment relations.
POLITICAL COOPERATION
History
The beginning of diplomatic relations between Italy and Thailand dates back to 1868, when the Kings of Thailand and Italy signed a Treaty of Friendship and Commerce for the first time.
The roots of the ties between Italy and Thailand are rooted in significant milestones, such as the visit to Rome of His Majesty King Rama IX in 1960 and the arrival in Thailand of Corrado Feroci, better known as Silpa Bhirasri, in 1924, founder of Silpakorn University and considered the father of modern art in Thailand.
Since 1956, the following Heads of Mission have succeeded one another at the helm of the Italian Embassy:
Meetings
December 2, 2024. Bilateral political consultations in Bangkok chaired by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Riccardo Guariglia, and the Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eksiri Pintaruchi.
November 9-12, 2024. Visit to Thailand by the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida, and meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Narumon Pinyosinwat.
September 25, 2024. Undersecretary of State for Defense, Matteo Perego di Cremnago, visited the Italian Navy’s multipurpose offshore patrol vessel “Raimondo Montecuccoli,” moored at the port of Laem Chabang, and participated in the “Italian Industry Day.”
16-21 May 2024. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin paid a bilateral visit to Italy, meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome.
October 2-4, 2023. Deputy Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Valentino Valentini, traveled to Bangkok, where he participated in the 7th High-Level Dialogue on ASEAN-Italy Economic Relations, organized by The European House Ambrosetti. He met with Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Minister of Industry Pimpatra Wichaikul, Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee, and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, as well as representatives of Thailand’s main economic bodies, including the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), the Federation of Thai Industries, the Chamber of Commerce of Thailand, and the Board of Investment (BoI). A delegation from the Lombardy Region led by President Attilio Fontana and Leonardo President Amb. Stefano Pontecorvo also participated in the mission.
May 16, 2023. Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Vijavat Isarabhakdi, during her visit to Bangkok from May 16 to 18, 2023 to participate in the 79th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) at the United Nations Conference Centre.
January 12, 2023. Deputy Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy Valentino Valentini virtually participated in the eighth meeting of the Italy-Thailand Business Forum, which brings together the leading companies of the two countries, held in Chiang Mai.
June 5, 2020. Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Manlio Di Stefano had a virtual meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Vijavat Isarabhakdi.
October 19, 2018. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte met on the sidelines of the ASEM meeting in Brussels.
March 2, 2018. Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai was received at the Farnesina in Rome by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Angelino Alfano. This was the first European country officially visited by a Thai minister since May 2014.
This visit followed Foreign Minister Alfano’s visit to Bangkok on 9 February 2018 , where he met Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Minister Don Pramudwinai, the first visit by a European Minister to Thailand after the change in the EU common position adopted by the European Council on 11 December 2017.
Since the May 2014 coup, bilateral political visits have been blocked, except for meetings on the sidelines of multilateral events. In this context, the only bilateral political meeting in Thailand was that between Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs Benedetto Della Vedova and the Thai Deputy Foreign Minister on October 14, 2016 , on the sidelines of the EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting.
Previously, HRH Princess Sirindhorn represented Thailand at the National Day at EXPO Milan in 2015 .
September 10-13, 2013. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra paid a bilateral visit to Italy.
