Bangkok--Feb 5--MFA
His Excellency Mr. Hitoshi Kimura, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Shosaku Yasui, Chairman of the Japanese Steering Committee for the 120th Anniversary of Japan - Thailand Diplomatic Relations 2007,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my honour and pleasure to speak, on behalf of the Royal Thai Government, before this distinguished audience at this symposium on the “Future of Japan - Thailand Economic Partnership”.
I understand that this seminar is being organized in commemoration of two milestones: the 120th Anniversary of Japan - Thailand Diplomatic Relations and the entry into force of the Japan - Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement or JTEPA.
These two milestones -- the first, a celebration of our past achievements; the second, an anticipation of the mutual benefits to come -- represent a seamless continuation of the past into the present and towards the future of our relations.
Today, we are witnessing the beginning of a new era of strategic partnership between our two countries.
Economic links between Japan and Thailand have a long history.
They have been based on close historical ties and centuries of uninterrupted contact between the peoples of the two countries.
Against the backdrop of the strong yen in the late 1980’s, roughly one quarter of Japanese global investment moved into Asia, fueling what we saw as a regional economic boom across the region as Japanese companies put in place a series of regional production networks.
With many Japanese companies establishing their regional production bases in Thailand, economic relations between the two countries became closer and more interdependent.
At the end of 2006, the cumulative total of Japan’s direct investment in Thailand over the past 20 years was 1.8 trillion yen, representing the second largest Japanese investment in Asia after China.
Japan has risen to become Thailand’s most important trading partner in terms of trade value.
And despite the political change os last year, the confidence of Japanese companies in Thailand and the Thai economy never faltered.
Your continued presence in Thailand speaks for itself.
As far as I know, no Japanese firm, or indeed no foreign firm for that matter, that has established itself well in Thailand has left the country.
The figures also speak for themselves.
Look at our bilateral trade.
The total value of our trade in the first eight months of this year amounts to almost thirty billion US dollars or 3.5 trillion yen. That is almost a ten percent increase from the same period last year.
Look at new Japanese investment into Thailand.
For the first ten months of this year, new Japanese foreign investment amount to 62 billion baht or over 200 billion yen. That is almost a twenty percent increase from the same period last year.
Why?
Because your investments continue to be profitable and beneficial. For all you investors. For Japan. For Thailand.
Because our fundamentals remain strong and our prospects bright.
And because of the anticipation of the entry into force of the JTEPA.
The JTEPA will provide us with not only liberalisation and facilitation of trade in goods, trade in services, investment and movement of natural persons, but also elements of cooperation in various fields -- combining to build a solid platform for a closer and comprehensive partnership.
So the future is bright, the sentiments bullish, the opportunities limitless.
Distinguished Participants,
Given the fact that the two countries have developed a constructive and quite comprehensive relationship over the years, some important questions need to be asked.
Where will the JTEPA lead us?
Can it impart new meaning for the future relationship of the two countries?
How soon and to what extent will the benefits of the JTEPA be felt in the two countries, by the two peoples?
These are the sort of questions posed as we negotiated the JTEPA during the past four years during the EPA negotiations. The answers, I am sure, will become quite clear over the next three hours or so.
If JTEPA is to become a fundamental and integral factor in charting and driving the future direction of Japan-Thailand economic relations, it is important for both sides to make sure that the economic partnership agreementlives up to its expectations.
If the Thailand-Japan Economic Partnership is to become an important pillar of the growing partnership between Japan and an emerging ASEAN Community, within the context of a rising Asia, then the JTEPA must deliver and deliver well.
Let us not forget that through the Thai economy, you will eventually have access to the increasingly integrated ASEAN economy of some 600 million consumers, within a rising Asia that is experiencing about 6-7 percent growth this year.
There remains enormous work to be done involving the private sectors of both sides who will always play a crucial role in nurturing a vibrant economic relationship between Japan and Thailand.
Distinguished Participants,
There is a saying that war is too important to be left to the generals. Likewise, an economic partnership is too important to be left to the politicians, diplomats and economists.
We need to instill a sense of ownership in our economic partnership amongst our peoples and the private sectors -- from street vendors to top executives, from organic farm producers to heavy industry manufacturers.
This evening I will be meeting with several Japanese ministers at the Inaugural Session of the Japan - Thailand Joint Committee on Economic Partnership. We will discuss a range of issues, focussing on how best to map out our work plan for the next few years.
I feel that the initial stage of the JTEPA implementation will prove to be the most critical time for our economic partnership. It is thus essential for us to ensure that nothing is taken for granted in our cooperation.
Distinguished Participants,
In closing, let me express my sincere gratitude to the Japanese Steering Committee for the 120th Anniversary of Japan - Thailand Diplomatic Relations for organising today’s event.
I hope that the discussions at this important symposium will help us link the past with the present and onto the future. Let us lift our partnership to a higher plane so that it will lead to increased benefits to the peoples of the two countries.
Thank you.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-
His Excellency Mr. Hitoshi Kimura, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Shosaku Yasui, Chairman of the Japanese Steering Committee for the 120th Anniversary of Japan - Thailand Diplomatic Relations 2007,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my honour and pleasure to speak, on behalf of the Royal Thai Government, before this distinguished audience at this symposium on the “Future of Japan - Thailand Economic Partnership”.
I understand that this seminar is being organized in commemoration of two milestones: the 120th Anniversary of Japan - Thailand Diplomatic Relations and the entry into force of the Japan - Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement or JTEPA.
These two milestones -- the first, a celebration of our past achievements; the second, an anticipation of the mutual benefits to come -- represent a seamless continuation of the past into the present and towards the future of our relations.
Today, we are witnessing the beginning of a new era of strategic partnership between our two countries.
Economic links between Japan and Thailand have a long history.
They have been based on close historical ties and centuries of uninterrupted contact between the peoples of the two countries.
Against the backdrop of the strong yen in the late 1980’s, roughly one quarter of Japanese global investment moved into Asia, fueling what we saw as a regional economic boom across the region as Japanese companies put in place a series of regional production networks.
With many Japanese companies establishing their regional production bases in Thailand, economic relations between the two countries became closer and more interdependent.
At the end of 2006, the cumulative total of Japan’s direct investment in Thailand over the past 20 years was 1.8 trillion yen, representing the second largest Japanese investment in Asia after China.
Japan has risen to become Thailand’s most important trading partner in terms of trade value.
And despite the political change os last year, the confidence of Japanese companies in Thailand and the Thai economy never faltered.
Your continued presence in Thailand speaks for itself.
As far as I know, no Japanese firm, or indeed no foreign firm for that matter, that has established itself well in Thailand has left the country.
The figures also speak for themselves.
Look at our bilateral trade.
The total value of our trade in the first eight months of this year amounts to almost thirty billion US dollars or 3.5 trillion yen. That is almost a ten percent increase from the same period last year.
Look at new Japanese investment into Thailand.
For the first ten months of this year, new Japanese foreign investment amount to 62 billion baht or over 200 billion yen. That is almost a twenty percent increase from the same period last year.
Why?
Because your investments continue to be profitable and beneficial. For all you investors. For Japan. For Thailand.
Because our fundamentals remain strong and our prospects bright.
And because of the anticipation of the entry into force of the JTEPA.
The JTEPA will provide us with not only liberalisation and facilitation of trade in goods, trade in services, investment and movement of natural persons, but also elements of cooperation in various fields -- combining to build a solid platform for a closer and comprehensive partnership.
So the future is bright, the sentiments bullish, the opportunities limitless.
Distinguished Participants,
Given the fact that the two countries have developed a constructive and quite comprehensive relationship over the years, some important questions need to be asked.
Where will the JTEPA lead us?
Can it impart new meaning for the future relationship of the two countries?
How soon and to what extent will the benefits of the JTEPA be felt in the two countries, by the two peoples?
These are the sort of questions posed as we negotiated the JTEPA during the past four years during the EPA negotiations. The answers, I am sure, will become quite clear over the next three hours or so.
If JTEPA is to become a fundamental and integral factor in charting and driving the future direction of Japan-Thailand economic relations, it is important for both sides to make sure that the economic partnership agreementlives up to its expectations.
If the Thailand-Japan Economic Partnership is to become an important pillar of the growing partnership between Japan and an emerging ASEAN Community, within the context of a rising Asia, then the JTEPA must deliver and deliver well.
Let us not forget that through the Thai economy, you will eventually have access to the increasingly integrated ASEAN economy of some 600 million consumers, within a rising Asia that is experiencing about 6-7 percent growth this year.
There remains enormous work to be done involving the private sectors of both sides who will always play a crucial role in nurturing a vibrant economic relationship between Japan and Thailand.
Distinguished Participants,
There is a saying that war is too important to be left to the generals. Likewise, an economic partnership is too important to be left to the politicians, diplomats and economists.
We need to instill a sense of ownership in our economic partnership amongst our peoples and the private sectors -- from street vendors to top executives, from organic farm producers to heavy industry manufacturers.
This evening I will be meeting with several Japanese ministers at the Inaugural Session of the Japan - Thailand Joint Committee on Economic Partnership. We will discuss a range of issues, focussing on how best to map out our work plan for the next few years.
I feel that the initial stage of the JTEPA implementation will prove to be the most critical time for our economic partnership. It is thus essential for us to ensure that nothing is taken for granted in our cooperation.
Distinguished Participants,
In closing, let me express my sincere gratitude to the Japanese Steering Committee for the 120th Anniversary of Japan - Thailand Diplomatic Relations for organising today’s event.
I hope that the discussions at this important symposium will help us link the past with the present and onto the future. Let us lift our partnership to a higher plane so that it will lead to increased benefits to the peoples of the two countries.
Thank you.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-