Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba and Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na Ranong of the Kingdom of Thailand
November 28, 2011
Japanese
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On Monday, November 28, commencing at 4:00 p.m. for around 30 minutes, Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Kittirat Na Ranong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Thailand. The overview is the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Foreign Minister Gemba offered his heartfelt condolences regarding the damage caused by flooding in Thailand and stated that Japan intends to provide its full support to Thailand going forward. Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat responded by expressing his sincere gratitude.
- Foreign Minister Gemba conveyed his appreciation with regard to the fact that Prime Minister Yingluck promised at a summit meeting on November 18 to respond to the requests that Foreign Minister Gemba put forth during a foreign ministerial meeting in Thailand on November 11. At that foreign ministerial meeting, Foreign Minister Gemba asked for Thailand’s cooperation in reducing and exempting tariffs on equipment imported from outside of Thailand and granting Japanese backup staff permission to stay in Thailand so that Japanese companies that have halted operations due to flooding can restart their operations as quickly as possible. In addition, Foreign Minister Gemba asked that Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat give consideration to the development of the infrastructure needed for the swift reopening of factories and the creation of an environment in which companies can operate with a sense of security. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat stated that Thailand will conduct a comprehensive review of its infrastructure, including its measures against flooding, and intends to provide all companies based there with a sense of security.
- Foreign Minister Gemba stated that Japan intends to respond to the proposal that Prime Minister Yingluck set forth at the summit meeting on November 18 regarding the formulation of a recovery plan by the foreign ministers of the two countries, and he added that Japan will dispatch a survey team as early as December of this year in order to revise the master plan on flood countermeasures in the Chao Phraya River Basin. Foreign Minister Gemba also stated that Thailand and Japan, which have both suffered significant disasters this year, should provide each other with encouragement and work together closely with regard to rehabilitation and reconstruction. Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat responded by once again expressing his gratitude for Japan’s support, adding that Japan was very swift in providing assistance after the flooding occurred. He also stated that the Thai government intends to take thorough countermeasures regarding flooding and has promised the people of Thailand that there will not be a repeat of this year’s disaster during the next rainy season.
- (*The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)
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Related Information (Japan-Thailand Relations)