Visit to Japan of Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand
H.E. Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra
(Outline and Evaluation)

26 November 2001

From 18 to 21 November 2001, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, H.E. Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra, together with Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai and other ministers paid an official working visit to Japan. The following is an outline and evaluation of the visit.

1. Outline

(1) Formal Events, including an audience with His Majesty the Emperor, and the Japan-Thailand Summit Meeting (19 November)

• Prime Minister Thaksin had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor, and also held a Summit meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for about one hour. Representatives from both sides and from various fields attended a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Koizumi.
• In the Summit meeting between the two leaders, in addition to the Japan-Thailand bilateral relationship, the two leaders frankly exchanged their views concerning policy toward the Union of Myanmar and regional cooperation projects, such as anti-drug measures.
• The two leaders concurred that "The Economic Partnership Framework between Japan and the Kingdom of Thailand (2001-2005)," which was the result of the 8th Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Consultations held in June 2001, would form a guideline for strengthening future economic relations between Japan and Thailand. At the end of the meeting, the Foreign Ministers of both countries, in the presence of the two Prime Ministers, signed the framework document.
• Prime Minister Thaksin proposed the establishment of "Asian Cooperation Dialogue" among foreign ministers of a number of countries, including Japan and Thailand, in order to expand trade and investment in the Asian region. Prime Minister Thaksin also proposed to study the possibilities for a "Japan-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA)" and an "Economic Agreement for Partnership."
• Prime Minister Koizumi responded that it was important to progress the strengthening of economic relations between the two countries, based on the Framework and that he was prepared to take every occasion to discuss any number of ideas in the future aimed at strengthening the bilateral relationship. In this context, Prime Minister Koizumi also mentioned the importance of student exchanges.

(2) Luncheon with the Japan-Thailand Parliamentarians Friendship Association (20 November)

• Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono hosted a luncheon in his capacity as Chairman of the Japan-Thailand Parliamentarians Friendship Association and an exchange of views took place toward the enhancement of active exchange among parliamentarians from Japan and Thailand. Prime Minister Thaksin invited the Japanese members of the Association to pay a visit to Thailand.

(3) Informal breakfast meeting with the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), Thai Investment Seminar (20 November)

• Members of Prime Minister Thaksin's delegation attended an informal breakfast meeting with the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), and attended the Thai Investment Seminar (held jointly by the Board of Investment of Thailand and the ASEAN-Japan Centre). Before an audience of more than 800 business leaders, the delegation members explained Thailand's investment policies and conveyed a message welcoming Japanese investment in Thailand. The Japanese side offered frank opinions concerning the improvement of the investment environment in Thailand.

(4) Visit to Oita Prefecture (observation of the One Village, One Product Movement) (21 November)

• Prime Minister Thaksin and delegation members paid a visit to Oita Prefecture to observe a model project of the One Village, One Product Movement that has been initiated by Prime Minister Thaksin in Thailand. Prime Minister Thaksin received a warm welcome from the people of the prefecture, including Governor Morihiko Hiramatsu.
• Governor Hiramatsu announced that he would dispatch community leaders to Thailand to offer support for the One Village, One Product Movement in Thailand. Prime Minister Thaksin proposed a regional exchange plan between Oita Prefecture and his own home province of Chiang Mai.

2. Evaluation

(1) Promotion of personal relations of trust between Prime Minister Koizumi and Prime Minister Thaksin

• Since his appointment as Prime Minister in February 2001, Prime Minister Thaksin has placed particular importance on Asia and even more so on relations with both Japan and China, and had previously expressed his strong will to pay a visit to Japan at the earliest possible opportunity. On the occasion of this visit, due largely to a frank exchange of opinions at the first Summit meeting between the two leaders and the friendly exchanges at the dinner hosted by Prime Minister Koizumi, personal relations of trust have been cultivated between the two leaders. While it had been regarded that Prime Minister Thaksin's contacts with high-level Japanese government officials were limited, we may say now that this visit established a solid foundation to further promote bilateral relations between Japan and Thailand in the future.

(2) Expanding partnership between Japan and Thailand

• Both leaders confirmed the importance of the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries and affirmed that through expansion of the partnership, in addition to further promoting bilateral relations, the two countries would make a contribution to regional peace and stability in the future.
• Particularly in economic areas, it was of great significance that it was confirmed "The Economic Partnership Framework between Japan and the Kingdom of Thailand (2001-2005)" would form a guideline for the future. In addition, concerning issues including policy toward Myanmar and regional cooperation issues, such as anti-drug measures, it was concurred that Japan and Thailand would further cooperate and expand their partnership.
• On the other hand, concerning the proposals that were put forward by Thailand for the first time on this visit, including the "Asian Cooperation Dialogue" proposal, it will be necessary to specifically confirm the ideas of the Thai side, in order that Japan can proceed to consider the possibilities for such proposals.

(3) Broad range of exchanges reflect the Japan-Thailand Relationship

• The delegation accompanying Prime Minister Thaksin to Japan numbered a total of 104 persons, including nine ministers, as well as parliamentarians, economic organization representatives, community leaders from the One Village, One Product Movement in Thailand and representatives of the mass media. Vigorous exchange took place between these delegation members and their counterparts in Japan, which further contributed to promoting the broad nature of relations between Japan and Thailand.