On 3 November 2010, Mr. Seiji Kojima, the Ambassador of Japan, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the Foreign Ministry on the assumption of his duty.
Foreign Minister Kasit offered his appreciation for Ambassador Kojima’s participation along with other members of the diplomatic corps in visiting the Southern Border Provinces late last month. In addition, he also informed the Japanese Ambassador of the recent development in the Southern Border Provinces, which has seen a slow but steady return of normalcy.
He also briefed the Japanese Ambassador on the recent meeting with the Japanese Foreign Minister during the 17th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Hanoi, Vietnam, which both sides reiterated their stances to push forward bilateral relations through existing mechanisms such as the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA). In this regard, Foreign Minister Kasit also briefed on the cooperation both countries can pursue in jointly providing assistance to countries in the lower Mekong region, which Thailand, as an emerging donor country, has three main agencies to do so, namely (1) the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Agency (NEDA); (2) the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD); and (3) the
Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA).
Ambassador Kojima informed Foreign Minister Kasit that the Japanese Government sees ASEAN as a potential region to direct assistance to build infrastructure facilities. In this regard, Foreign Minister Kasit said that during the recent ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, leaders from ASEAN countries and dialogue partners were in view that the centrality of ASEAN as the core must be maintained. This will require the integration of countries of the region and beyond, the narrowing of the development gap between countries in the region, and the integrity of ASEAN with reference to the ASEAN Charter especially on the issue of human rights and good governance. It is in these requirements that Japan, with coordination with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB) as well as with other major donor countries, can assist countries in the region to enhance regional infrastructures.
With regards to the case of Mr. Hiroyuki Muramoto, Ambassador Kojima expressed appreciation to the Foreign Ministry for playing the role of good office in the case. Foreign Minister Kasit reassured the Japanese side that the Foreign Ministry is in close contact with the Department of Information (DSI) on a regular basis. In addition, both sides also agreed to exchange information on the naval operation in the Gulf of Aden to suppress Somali pirates.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th