On 31 October 2019, H.E. Mr. Jesda Katavetin, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and H.E. Mr. Shiro Sadoshima, Ambassador of Japan to Thailand co-signed the Memorandum on Japan-Thailand Partnership Programme (Phase 3) or JTPP3. JTPP3 is a cooperation framework between Thailand and Japan to promote ASEAN integration, which will contribute to realising a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Tokyo Strategy 2018 for Mekong-Japan Cooperation, the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (or ACMECS) Master Plan (2019 - 2023), and the attainment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Areas of cooperation under JTPP3 include training courses, development cooperation projects, dispatch of experts, joint research, financial support on infrastructure development for third countries which both sides will support on equitable basis. The implementation of the project will be guided by the joint mechanism and annual meeting between Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

JTPP 3 reflects the firm intention of Thailand and Japan to elevate development cooperation based on the Japan – Thailand Partnership Programme on Technical Cooperation (JTPP) signed in 1994, JTPP 2 in 2003, and Partnership Agreement between JICA and NEDA. It aims to respond to current and future trends, in a comprehensive and diversified manner, utilising the existing mechanism and projects and integrated approach among concerned agencies in achieving the Official Development Assistance (ODA) effectiveness and the wider impact on the countries and regional development.

Currently, Thailand and Japan have carried out the 3-year workplan (2018 - 2020) under the Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam, and ASEAN countries in 4 main areas, namely skill development for material processing, empowerment of persons with disability, road infrastructure development for ASEAN and BIMSTEC. Trilateral projects for other developing countries are carried out in various regions including focused programme on foot and mouth disease control, disaster management, aquaculture development for Myanmar, and the project on tourism development in Palestine, and the new project on sustainable community development in Senegal.