Thailand and Japan Agree to Increase Cooperation under the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement

(18/01/2013)

Thailand and Japan have agreed to increase cooperation under the existing framework of Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) on the basis of mutual interest. The agreement was reached during discussions between Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan on 17 January 2013. The Japanese Prime Minister paid a visit to Thailand on 17-18 January 2013. Prime Minister Yingluck said, in a joint press conference at Government House, that Japanese investment in Thailand has largely increased by 85 percent during the first 11 months of 2012, which reflects the confidence of Japanese businessmen in Thailand. She said that both sides also discussed SMEs cooperation, particularly Japanese SMEs investment in Thailand in such potential areas as green technology, automotive, aircraft, and energy. Furthermore, they discussed the issue of human resources development, especially vocational training for skilled and semi-skilled labor to accommodate Japanese industries, both in Thailand and the region. As for the development of science and technology, Prime Minister Yingluck stressed that hardware, that is, infrastructure, and software, that is, human, must be developed altogether. Details of this matter will be discussed by both parties later. Prime Minister Abe expressed interest in involving Japan in Thailand’s infrastructure development projects, for example, flood prevention system and high speed railway project, as well as the Dawei industrial zone, which will be a strategic connection between East Asia and such large-scaled markets as Europe and the Middle East. Prime Minister Yingluck affirmed to her Japanese counterpart that Thailand and Myanmar welcomed Japanese partnership for the Dawei project, and that trilateral dialogue among high-level authorities of the three countries must be scheduled soon. On the regional situation, both sides agreed that Asia is now growing and developing at a rapid pace. All parties must, therefore, join hands in keeping peace and stability to maintain favorable atmosphere for economic development and well-being of the people in the region. They also agreed that roles of countries of power are considered significant, and, at the same time, Asians must also be united. Any conflict and dispute should be tackled in a peaceful way, based on the mutual interest. They also came to terms with regard to the issues of security reinforcement for marine navigation and conflict on the Korean Peninsula, stating that the Six-Party Talks should quickly be resumed to make Asia a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. Prime Minister Yingluck and the Japanese Prime Minister reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other in applying for the United Nations Security Council's non-permanent membership for Japan in 2016 and Thailand in 2017. Prime Minister Yingluck added that the fact that Prime Minister Abe had chosen to come to Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia in his first overseas visit, following his assumption of office, showed how significant the ASEAN countries are to Japan. The visit also perfectly coincided with the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations in 2013.