On 13 May 2020 at 14.00 – 14.40 hrs. (Thailand’s local time), H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, had a telephone conversation with Mr. Motegi Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. This conversation followed their bilateral meeting during the official visit to Thailand by Minister Motegi on 7 January 2020.  
 

The two Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to work closely together at the bilateral, regional and international levels in overcoming the COVID-19 situation and safeguarding supply chains. The Japanese Foreign Minister commended the Royal Thai Government for the effective measures in containing the situation. On Thailand’s part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation to the Government of Japan for the arrangements that have enabled the sale of N-95 masks and materials for the production of masks to the Thai side, and for selling and donating Favipiravir (AVIGAN) to Thailand as well as facilitating the repatriation of Thai citizens in Japan and taking care of those Thai nationals residing in Japan.
 

The two Ministers recognised the importance of fostering post-COVID-19 cooperation with the view to revitalising the economies of both countries and the region. In this regard, the Thai Foreign Minister proposed enhanced cooperation in the fields of medical and health security, including research and development and investment by the Japanese private sector in the production of vaccine and modern medical devices in Thailand. He also proposed that both sides intensify cooperation in areas of food security, innovative SMEs and Startups, medical tourism and smart agriculture. On his part, the Japanese Foreign Minister expressed Japan’s readiness in providing technical assistance and medical supplies to Thailand at the amount of 770,000 USD and an emergency loan to help strengthen the Thai economy. 
 

           On regional cooperation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation to the Japanese side for supporting Thailand’s initiative on the establishment of the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, while Minister Motegi reaffirmed his support for Thailand in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement of Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and expressed readiness to cooperate with the Thai side under the Mekong-Japan framework to develop the Mekong sub-region.