Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL) – During the 15th Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia, Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Thailand, met with Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Defence of The Gambia, to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation.

The meeting, held on 5 May 2024, was an opportunity for both sides to express mutual appreciation for the warm relations between Thailand and The Gambia. Ms. Santipitaks conveyed Thailand’s good wishes and gratitude to The Gambia for hosting the summit successfully, while Minister Njie thanked Thailand for its active participation in the event.

Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in development cooperation. Ms. Santipitaks highlighted the Thailand-Africa Initiative (TAI) and the Strategic Tripartite Development Partnership with the OIC and OIC Member States as avenues for enhancing cooperation with The Gambia and other African OIC countries.

In response, Minister Njie expressed The Gambia’s interest in expanding cooperation with Thailand, especially in the areas of security and human resources development, with a focus on agriculture and tourism.

Additionally, both sides discussed the Israel-Palestine conflict, a key agenda item at the summit, sharing their concerns and exchanging views on the matter.

The meeting between the two delegations underscores the commitment of Thailand and The Gambia to furthering their relationship and exploring new avenues of cooperation for mutual benefit.