Sabida met with the French Culture Minister to strengthen relations by adopting global models to develop the Thai film industry, performing arts, and cultural heritage.
On 22 May 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Sabida Thaiset, Minister of Culture, along with senior Ministry officials, met with Mrs. Catherine Pégard, Minister of Culture of the French Republic, on the special occasion of the 170th anniversary of Thai-French diplomatic relations and to continue the over 340-year-old ties dating back to King Narai the Great's era. Both sides exchanged views on promoting cultural cooperation at the public, societal, and creative industry levels, with Thailand expressing a clear commitment to strengthening collaboration through concrete joint projects and activities.
Ms. Sabida said this visit to France reflects the proactive role of Thailand’s Ministry of Culture in studying France’s world-class cultural management models to adapt them to Thailand’s context, especially to develop Thailand's cultural and creative economy sectors to be internationally competitive. Additionally, the Thai cultural delegation held discussions with representatives from leading French cultural institutions to advance key collaborations in five main areas: development of cultural and creative industries, enhancement of the film industry, exchange in performing arts, cooperation on museums and cultural heritage, and promotion of collaboration within UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.
The Thai Ministry of Culture believes that the successful discussions will lead to long-term relationship growth and concretely elevate Thailand’s role on the international cultural and creative industry stages.