The third edition of the Thailand-Spain Forum will be held in Bangkok on June 5th, 2025, bringing together representatives from civil society, public administrations, and the academic, business, and energy sectors from both countries.

This forum for dialogue and cooperation, whose second edition took place in Madrid in 2023, is organized by Casa Asia and the Devswongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA), in collaboration with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the embassies of both countries.

The Forum serves as a platform for exchange and dialogue aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Spain and Thailand in areas of common interest, while also building connections between their respective civil societies. This third edition will focus on promoting cooperation in strategic areas such as sustainability, ecological transition, circular economy, and climate action. 

Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges

The 3rd Spain-Thailand Forum is structured around three thematic sessions, in addition to opening and closing remarks. The first session will address climate change from a human security perspective. The second will focus on the circular economy, with special attention to recycling and waste recovery. The third will analyze the role of local communities and youth in sustainable development.

Participants will include representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries, Casa Asia, the International Studies Center (ISC), and experts from the academic, municipal, and business sectors. The Spanish delegation includes specialists from institutions such as the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Madrid City Council, ACCIONA, Guascor Energy, CREAF, and the UN ETXEA association. On the Thai side, participants will include representatives from the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO), Thammasat University, the Fashion Revolution Movement, and the Lantau Group, among others.

The Forum will open on June 5 at the Narathip Auditorium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. The event will include speeches by Thitiporn Chirasawadi, Director of the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA), and the Director General of Casa Asia, José Pintor Aguilar, along with opening remarks by the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Eksiri Pintaruchi, and the Director General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, Luis Fonseca.

Programme

8.30 - 9.00 – Registration

9.00 - 9.10 – Welcome remarks

Mrs. Thitiporn Chirasawadi, Director of the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA)
Sr. José Pintor Aguilar, Director General of Casa Asia

Group photo

9.10 - 9.30 - Opening speeches

Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi,, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand
Mr. Luis Fonseca, Director General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain

9.30 - 10.00 – Coffee break

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Session 1: “Climate Change: A Human Security Dimension”

Moderator:
Dr. Krongkwan Traitongyoo, Senior Analyst, International Studies Center (ISC)

Participants:
Dr. Anuson Chinvano, Director of the International Studies Center
Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat, President, National Council Office for Scientific Research Policy and Innovation in Higher Education (NXPO)
Dr. Ana Iglesias, professor at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural, Food and Biosystems Engineering (ETSIAAB) of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) and researcher at the Center for Studies and Research in Agricultural and Environmental Risk Management (CEIGRAM)
Dr. Fernando del Valle, Head of the Clean Technologies Service, Madrid City Council

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Session 2: “Circular Economy: Upcycling and Recycling”

Moderator:
Mrs. Micaela Picazo, International Deputy Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce

Participants:
Dr. Bank Ngamarunchot, Director of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIPI), King Mongkut's University of Technology, Thonburi
Ms. Kamonnart Ongwandee, Country Coordinator, Fashion Revolution Movement (TBC)
Mr. Francisco Moreno, Head of Business Development SEA, ACCIONA
Dr. Andoni Caballero, APAC Territory Manager, Guascor Energy

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Session 3: “The future of sustainable development: the role of community and youth”

Moderator:
Mr. Seksan Anantasirikiat, Senior Researcher, Internacional Studies Center (ISC)

Participants:
Dr. Sunida Aroonpipat, Associate Professor, Assistant to the Dean of Academic Affairs, Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University
Mrs. Jitsai Santaputra, Consultant, Lantau Group Bangkok
Ms. Nekane Viota Fernández, Head of Sustainability and Gender Focal Point, UN ETXEA - Basque Country Association for UNESCO
Ms. Andrea Arnal Martin, Esfera Climática Coordinator, Ecological and Forestry Applications Research Centre (CREAF)

Biographical profiles of the Spanish participants