On 15 January 2025, H.E. Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed H.E. Mr. Matsuo Takehiko, Vice-Minister for International Affairs of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), during the latter’s visit to Thailand. The discussion centered on advancing towards launching the Energy and Industry Dialogue (EID) and exchanging views on the future of Thai-Japanese cooperation, particularly in the area of automotive industry.

Both sides exchanged views on methods to align the automotive sector with the environmentally friendly technologies and global demands. Secretary Chutintorn emphasized the significance of the Japanese automotive industry in Thailand, which has driven decades of investments and contributed to the economic growth of both nations. Thus, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to launching and utilizing the EID as a platform for policy-level collaboration between the two countries.

The EID is a bilateral initiative aimed at fostering Thai-Japanese cooperation in green energy and advancing Thailand’s transition to a low-carbon industrial sector, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Thai industries on the global stage.