Emperor asks Japanese expats to strengthen ties with Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Japan's Emperor Akihito on Monday urged a new generation of Japanese expatriates in Thailand to strengthen the long-lived relations between Thailand and Japan as previous generations did decades ago.

The emperor praised Japanese investors entering Thailand in the last decade for their laudable efforts in creating friendship and understanding between Japan and the Thai people, and he said he wanted the new generation of Japanese nationals living and working in Thailand to follow suit.

Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Michiko, met some 200 Japanese expatriates and Thai nationals in audience at a Bangkok hotel Monday morning during their state visit to Thailand to attend the celebrations marking Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej' s 60 years on the throne.

World monarchs, royal consorts, representatives, and dignitaries were invited to the celebrations highlighted with spectacular events on Monday and Tuesday.

Following their 119 year-long diplomatic relationship, Japan and Thailand have developed strong bilateral ties in nearly all fields -- political, economic. social and cultural.

The economic relations between the two countries is significant, with trade amounting to almost US$36 billion (Bt1.4 trillion or Yen4.1 trillion) in 2004, and tending to increase steadily.

Japanese investors comprise the majority of foreign investors in Thailand. Japan's investment in Thailand alone, on average, accounts for roughly 40-50 per cent of its Foreign Direct Investment each year, based on the number of applications approved.

Members of Thai and Japanese royal families have close relations and they frequently exchanged their visits since diplomatic ties were established in September 1887.

--TNA 2006-06-12

Was pretty strong about 60 years ago to my recollection.