On 9 March 2012, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, gave an interview to the media on news report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) regarding opening remarks in Thai by the Prime Minister at the opening of the Japanese investors seminar without any accompanying translation, which was quoted by several Thai news agencies. Summary as follows:
1. In the seminar “Strengthening Thailand-Japan Business Partnership” between the Thai and Japanese private sectors in the afternoon of 7 March 2012 at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, the opening speeches were delivered by the Prime Minister and Mr. Tadashi Okamura, Chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). The JCCI’s Chairman made the welcoming remarks in Japanese while the Prime Minister gave her remarks in Thai. This format was agreed upon in advance by both sides due to the time constraint as after the opening ceremony, the participants had to take part in seven sectoral sub-groups seminars which include automotive parts, electronics and electronic components, agriculture and food, tourism, petrochemical, construction and retail business.
2. However, it should be noted that during the opening ceremony, translated copies of the speech of the JCCI’s Chairman in Thai as well as translated copies of the
Prime Minister’s speech in English and Japanese were distributed, as consistent with international practice. During the seven sectoral sub-groups seminars, Thai-Japanese interpretation was provided.
3. It is thus regrettable that the WSJ did not take into account nor report the substance of the statements made by both the Thai and Japanese sides but rather chose to focus on a procedural issue which does not in anyway reflect the whole picture of the official visit.
4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a letter to the Wall Street Journal in order to clarify the matter and express its disappointment.
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