Japan-Thailand Relations

On October 16, commencing at 8:50 a.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Prime Minister Abe, who is visiting Milan, Italy to attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) 10 Summit Meeting, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Prayuth Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand. The overview is as follows.

1. This meeting was the first Japan-Thailand Summit Meeting held since the launch of the new administration in Thailand, and Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan and Thailand both have a long tradition as friendly nations, and he would like to further strengthen the broad relationship of cooperation between Japan and Thailand. Prime Minister Abe conveyed his strong expectation that the restoration of democracy in Thailand would be achieved promptly through national reconciliation.
2. Prime Minister Abe called on Thailand to utilize Japanese technologies in fields such as infrastructure development in order to achieve continuous growth, and requested to promptly lift restrictions on food imports imposed after the Great East Japan Earthquake in connection with radioactive materials and to ensure an investment environment that is transparent and fair, which is important for Japanese companies that do business in Thailand.
3. In response, the Thai side explained that in bringing about democratization in Thailand, the emphasis is on maintaining stability in the domestic situation, and Thailand will listen to the voice of the international community, including Japan, while moving ahead with reform and working toward democratization. Furthermore, the Thai side stated that in order to encourage economic relations with Japan, Thailand will engage in promoting a domestic investment environment that is fair and transparent, and hopes for Japan’s cooperation in infrastructure areas such as rail, water resources management and energy, and will direct that the consideration of food import restrictions be accelerated.