Thai PM meets with former Japanese counterpart on trade and economic cooperation

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had an informal discussion with his former counterpart, Kishida Fumio, about trade and economic cooperation between Thailand and Japan on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank meetings today.

The two sides referred to the close relationship between the two countries, which will enter its 140th year in 2027, as reflected in their close economic cooperation in trade, investment and industrial development, particularly in the automotive sector.

Anutin said Thailand has prioritised the strength of automotive industry, with the country playing the role of a leading assembly hub for Japanese vehicles for a long time, adding that he is ready to hear from the Japanese side about its concern over the a large number of EVs imported from China.

He stated that Thailand places great importance on the promotion of production of EVs in the country, in parallel with safeguarding the production of fossil fuel-driven vehicles and the transition to a future automotive industry.

The prime minister claimed that he has persuaded Japanese car producers to consider using Thailand as part of the production chain for Japanese EVs, to continue the prolonged cooperation between the two counties in the automotive sector, the promotion of investment and technology transfer to maintain the standard of vehicles produced and assembled in Thailand.

The two sides also discussed cooperation in the transition to clean energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, with the Japanese side expressing readiness to support technology transfer and transition to sustainable low carbon emissions.