Japan-Thailand Foreign Ministers' Meeting

November 24, 2011

(Japanese)

Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Surapong Tovichakchaikul of the Kingdom of Thailand in Honolulu, Hawaii, on November 11 on the occasion of the APEC Ministerial Meeting. The following is an outline of their discussions.

1. Damage Caused by Floods

At the outset of the meeting, Minister Gemba expressed deep sympathy for the damage caused by the recent floods in Thailand and thanked Minister Surapong for the great assistance provided by Thailand to Japan in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. He pledged that Japan would continue to fully assist Thailand, noting that Japan had already dispatched emergency relief goods and experts to Thailand.

Minister Gemba pointed out that early resumption of production activities by Japanese companies operating in Thailand would be of great importance not only for that country but also for the regional economy as a whole. In this connection, he asked for the Thai government's cooperation in restoring the supply of electricity and industrial water, exempting duties on machines and equipment that are imported as replacements for those damaged by the floods, and simplifying procedures for Japanese citizens to work in Thailand to help rebuild damaged facilities.

In response, Minister Surapong expressed deep appreciation for the assistance being provided by Japan. He also assured that the Thai government would do everything in its power for early recovery of the manufacturing industry, in which Japanese companies has been taking a great role.

2. Death of Japanese Citizen in Thailand

Minister Gemba asked that the truth be foundas soon as possible regarding the incident resulting in the death of a Japanese citizen in the midst of demonstrations in Thailand last year. Minister Surapong promised expeditious investigations, saying that achieving national reconciliation was a matter of great importance for the new government under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

3. Regional Cooperation

The two ministers shared the common view that their two countries would cooperate with each other at the East Asia Summit and the Mekong-Japan Summit meetings, both to be held in Indonesia this week.