Thailand hosted the 39th ASEAN Japan Forum to strengthen ASEAN Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

On 25 June 2024, Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations, co-chaired the 39^th ASEAN-Japan Forum in Bangkok with Mr. Funakoshi Takehiro, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. Senior Officials or representatives of ASEAN Member States and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN attended the Forum. The representative of Timor-Leste was also present as Observer.

The Forum was to review the progress after the historic milestone of the 50^th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation with the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2023, particularly the implementation of the new Joint Vision Statement and its Implementation Plan adopted at the Commemorative Summit in December 2023 in Tokyo.

The Forum discussed ways to advance the CSP in all three pillars of cooperation, namely Heart-to-Heart Partners across Generations, Partners for Co-creation of Economy and Society and Partners for Peace and Stability. Thailand highlighted priority areas in further deepening the economic partnership through accelerating green transition, promoting digital transformation and strengthening physical, digital and social connectivity.

The Forum also had an extensive exchange of views on regional and international issues, including the situations in Myanmar, the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East and Ukraine.

To highlight the role of the Country Coordinator (July 2021-July 2024) and the long-standing ties between ASEAN and Japan, Thailand organised a study visit to Ayutthaya Province by a Japanese train KIHA 183 which has been refurbished as an exclusive tourism train.