During 8 - 9 October 2018, H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand led the Thai delegation to the 10th Mekong - Japan Summit and related activities in Tokyo, Japan. H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Dr. Kobsak Pootrakool, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, also joined the delegation. 

 

      On 9 October 2018, the Prime Minister attended the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit together with the Prime Minister of Japan, and Leaders of Mekong countries, including the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and Prime Minister of Vietnam. 

 

      The meeting welcomed Japan’s proposal of the Tokyo Strategy 2018 for Mekong - Japan Cooperation prior to its adoption. The Strategy is aligned with ACMECS Master Plan, Free and Open Indo - Pacific Strategy and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Tokyo Strategy 2018 also identifies three pillars of cooperation including developing a vibrant and effective connectivity, creating a people-centered society, and realizing a Green Mekong. 

 

      In his statement, the Thai Prime Minister expressed appreciation to Japan’s recognition of the ACMECS Master Plan, which will connect and complement with Mekong-Japan Cooperation for sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region. The Prime Minister also appreciated Japan’s announcement to enhance Japanese private sector’s role and reiterated Thailand’s readiness to collaborate with Japan in celebrating the “Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2019” to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the cooperation. As future ASEAN Chair in 2019, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to work closely with Japan as a development partner in building a people-centered, dynamic, and inclusive community that leaves no one behind. 

 

      During the visit and along with all leaders of Mekong countries, the Prime Minister was granted a Royal Audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and the Crown Prince, participated in a meeting with members of the Japan-Mekong Parliamentary Friendship Association, a luncheon with representatives of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) as well as the Mekong - Japan Investment Forum arranged by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

 

     On 8 October 2018, the Prime Minister held bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, in which he discussed several issues of mutual interest including the cooperation on trade and investment as well as regional issues such as RCEP and CPTPP. The Prime Minister also met with the Chairman of JETRO, and with the President and CEO of Mitsui & Co., where he emphasized Thailand’s potential in developing regional connectivity and encouraged the Japanese private sector to invest in Thailand under key economic policies such as Thailand 4.0, the ten targeted industries, and the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). 

 

      The Prime Minister’s visit to Japan resulted in great success at both bilateral and multilateral levels. On bilateral relations, the visit promoted confidence in Thailand’s political development and economy, as Japan has been Thailand’s largest source of foreign investment and second largest trading partner. At the multilateral level, the ACMECS Master Plan, initiated by Thailand, was incorporated into the Tokyo Strategy 2018, and mentioned in the leaders’ statements. This reflects the confidence of the Member States that ACMECS could be a key mechanism to promote stability, prosperity, and sustainability in the sub-region.