H.E. Mr. Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, paid an introductory visit to Thailand during 7 – 8 January 2020 after his assumption of office on 11 September 2019. On this occasion, H.E. Mr. Motegi held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, on 7 January 2020. 

 

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs of both sides exchanged views on bilateral, regional and international issues. They welcomed the close relations between Thailand and Japan in all dimensions and affirmed their determination to work together to further promote relations between Thailand and Japan for regional progress, stability and sustainability. The Japanese side commended Thailand for its role as ASEAN Chair in 2019.

 

      On economic and development cooperation, the two ministers discussed trade and investment, especially expansion of investment by Japan’s private sector in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), as well as development of Thailand’s targeted industries and high quality infrastructure in Thailand and the region. Both sides also agreed to enhance their partnership under the Japan-Thailand Partnership Program Phase 3 (JTPP3) to provide development assistance to third countries in the Mekong Subregion, ASEAN, as well as other regions, in such areas as human resources development, fisheries and tourism development.

 

       On security cooperation, both sides welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Arrangement on Cooperation and Exchanges in the Field of Defense between their respective Ministries of Defense in November 2019 and encouraged the implementation of the said Memorandum into concrete outcomes, particularly in the exchanges of know-how and trainings. They also agreed to further cooperate on cyber security. 

 

  On subregional and regional cooperation, the two foreign ministers agreed to cooperate under subregional and regional frameworks. These are, among others, the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), which Japan has joined as a development partner, the Mekong-Japan cooperation, within which both sides will co-host the first Mekong-Japan SDGs Forum in Bangkok this year, as well as ASEAN, including the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and APEC, which Thailand will chair in 2022. Both sides also agreed to work towards the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) among all 16 member states, including India, within this year. The Japanese side reaffirmed its support for Thailand to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement of Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) at the earliest opportunity and expressed readiness to cooperate with Thailand on combating marine debris. 

 

        In addition, the Thai and Japanese foreign ministers exchanged views on various regional and international issues such as the situations in the South China Sea, the Rakhine State, the Korean Peninsula, and the Middle East. 

 

  After the meeting, Foreign Minister Motegi paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and his spouse also hosted a dinner in honour of H.E. Mr. Motegi and his spouse.