On 5 June 2017, H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand hold a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Nobuo Kishi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 

 

H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul expressed his appreciation to the Imperial Family and the Government of Japan for having sent messages of condolence and sympathy on the passing of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and congratulatory messages on the occasion His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun’s accession to the throne. Moreover, H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul also expressed the Royal Thai Government’s deepest appreciation for the visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan to Thailand to pay Their respect to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej during 5 - 6 March 2017. 

 

In addition, H.E. Mr. Virasakdi and H.E. Mr. Kishi had a discussion on the arrangement of activities for the commemoration of 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Japan, on 26 September 2017. In this connection, H.E. Mr. Virasakdi invited H.E. Mr. Kishi and Japan high level officials to join the commemorative reception and exhibition that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Embassy of Japan will jointly organize in Bangkok. On the same day, Royal Thai Embassy, Tokyo, will also organise a commemorative classical concert at Suntory Hall. H.E. Mr. Virasakdi reaffirmed the invitation from Prime Minister of Thailand to Prime Minister of Japan to visit Thailand in this commemorative year.

 

H.E. Mr. Virasakdi also informed that, to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Thailand and Japan, the Thai Government would support the candidature of Japan to host the International Registered Exposition in 2025 in Osaka Prefecture per the request from Japan, and would support for the establishment of Royal Thai Consulate-General in Fukuoka Prefecture as requested from the Governor of Fukuoka due to the increasing number of Thai tourists to Fukuoka and the Kyushu Island as well as the potential economic cooperation between Thailand and the Kyushu Island.   

 

Both sides agreed to hold a General Review of Japan – Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of an entry into force of JTEPA. Regarding the cooperation on Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), H.E. Mr. Kishi expressed support for Thailand’s initiative in Country Partnership Programme (CPP). In response, H.E. Mr. Virasakdi invited representative of government of Japan to attend OECD Southeast Asia Forum 2017 to be hosted by Thailand in August 2017 where the opening event of Thailand’s CPP would also be held. 

 

Both Ministers signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan on Industrial Human Resources Development in Thailand and Mekong Sub-region with a view to building the human capacity of Thailand and other countries in the Mekong Sub-region.