Meeting between Prime Minister Noda and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck

November 25, 2011

(Japanese)

Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister of Japan, conferred with Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, on November 18 in Bali on the sidelines of ASEAN-related summit meetings. The following is a summary of the bilateral meeting:

1. At the outset, Prime Minister Noda expressed deep sympathy for the damage caused in Thailand by the recent floods, and thanked Prime Minister Yingluck for the tremendous assistance provided by Thailand to Japan following the Great East Japan Earthquake in March. He also pledged that Japan would continue to provide Thailand with full assistance, referring to emergency relief supplies and experts already dispatched to Thailand. He noted that the disruption of supply chains caused by the inundation of industrial parks had seriously impacted the regional economy as a whole and that early resumption of production by Japanese companies operating in Thailand would be crucial to the recovery of the Thai economy. In this connection, he asked for the Thai government's cooperation in facilitating the import of machines and equipment needed for that purpose and in granting permission to stay for Japanese staff dispatched to that country to support recovery operations.
2. Prime Minister Yingluck responded by saying that her government was working on flood control measures not only for immediate relief and reconstruction but also on a medium- to long-term basis. She added that for the purpose, a committee had been set up and plans were under consideration for earmarking a sizeable budget. She also expressed hope of receiving opinions from the Japanese industrial community on flood control and reconstruction plans as well as for accepting technological support from such organizations as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). She also stated that her government would endeavor to make her country regain the trust of investors and implement recovery plans expeditiously. For this purpose, she proposed that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two countries work closely together to map out reconstruction plans. She pledged support for Japanese activities through such means as reducing or exempting import duties levied on supplies and equipment needed for reconstruction as well as facilitating procedures for issuing entry and sojourn permits to Japanese personnel.
3. Prime Minister Noda asked that the truce be found as quickly as possible regarding the incident resulting in the death of a Japanese national during demonstrations in Thailand last year. Prime Minister Yingluck promised to find the truce as soon as possible.
4. The two Prime Ministers shared recognition of the need for their governments to work positively toward implementation of regional cooperation in disaster prevention and other areas. Prime Minister Noda proposed to hold the next Mekong-Japan Summit meeting in Japan at an appropriate time next year. Prime Minister Yingluck expressed her appreciation for the Japanese initiative.
5. Toward the end of the meeting, Prime Minister Yingluck said she was looking forward to visiting Japan, and invited Prime Minister Noda to visit Thailand.