Thai-Japanese Prime Ministers discuss cooperation in rail and agriculture

[Lite Beer]

Thai-Japanese Prime Ministers discuss cooperation in rail and agriculture

SENDAI, 14 March 2015 (NNT) – The Prime Ministers of Thailand and Japan held talks today on the cooperation in railroad development and agriculture trade, during the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan.

The Prime Minister of Thailand Gen Prayut Chano-o-cha today participated in a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, during the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan.

The Thai PM is reported to have praised the Japanese PM for hosting this international conference, and the fast recovery from the Tohoku 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

He stated that Thailand also faced crippling natural disasters, such as the flood disaster in 2011 and the tsunami disaster in 2004. He said the damage were considered as major lessons for the country. The Thai PM also proposed that countries should share their experience and disaster management procedures together in order to reduce the damages caused from disasters. He also praised Japan's support from the Tsunami Multi Donor Trust Fund, initiated by Thailand.

In this occasion, both leaders also followed up the cooperation between both countries, especially the rail system development agenda, where both countries had agreed to push forward for a concrete outcome, in keep with the Memorandum of Intent (MOI) that was initiated.

On the cooperation in water management, Thailand is ready to work with Japan in this area, says the Thai PM, adding that the Thai government has reconsidered the entire water management project. Thailand will be hosting an auction for project concessions and would be delighted if Japan was interested to invest in the projects.

The Thai PM expressed his willingness to propose a leader's meeting between Thailand, Myanmar and Japan, for the Dawei Speacial Economic Zone during the upcoming Mekong-Japan Summit in July 2015 in Tokyo.

Both leaders also discussed the opening of the agricultural produce market, which Thailand has asked Japan to increase its import of Thai agricultural products such as processed pork and fruits, including the two breeds of mango currently under the watch list of Japan. The Thai PM also asked Japan to support the new trade negotiations under the JTEPA agreement.

-- NNT 2015-03-14

[keestha]

Three times the same photo, or are we supposed to try and spot the differences?

[Lite Beer]

Prayut discusses rail plans and agriculture trade with Abe
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday met with his Japanese counterpart, PM Shinzo Abe, to discuss cooperation on rail development and agricultural trade, during his visit to Japan.

Prayut and Abe followed up on bilateral cooperation, especially the rail system development agenda, under which both countries agreed to push for a concrete outcome, following the signing of a memorandum of intent earlier, the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) reported.

The Thai leader told Abe that Thailand is ready to work with Japan in water management. He said the Thai government has reconsidered the entire water management project. Thailand will hold an auction for project concessions and would be delighted if Japan has an interest to invest in the projects, he said.

Both leaders also discussed opening an agricultural produce market. Thailand has asked Japan to increase its import of Thai agricultural products such as processed pork and fruits, including the two breeds of mango currently on a watch-list of Japan. Prayut also asked Tokyo to support new trade negotiations under the JTEPA agreement.

Prayut was in Japan to attend the United Nation's Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, being held in Sendai.

In his speech, the Thai PM called on leaders of various nations to establish an emergency hotline that links leaders in order to effectively tackle major disaster emergencies in a timely fashion.

Prayut said satellite and social media technology should be utilised to link nations to help deal with disasters.

He said Thailand was prepared to deal with disasters domestically and internationally and had been active in assisting other countries to cope with natural disasters. The premier cited examples such as cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, the tsunami in Japan and Haiyan typhoon in the Philippines as times when Thailand played a part in assisting other nations to cope with major traumas.

Prayut told the conference Thailand has been preparing itself to face natural disasters through investment in disaster protection, installing advance warning systems in case of another tsunami and by adhering to His Majesty the King's sufficiency economy philosophy that enables local communities to play a role in handling a disaster.

He said there was also a need to bring all stakeholders to play a role in mitigating and preventing disasters, be it public or private sector, women groups, mass media, youth, and so on.

Disaster prevention, said Prayut, was the most cost-effective investment in dealing with disaster. This, he said, includes investment in environmental conservation such as reducing rubbish in rivers and canals and ensuring proper water sewage and water reservoir systems in anticipation of flood.

The prime minister also stressed the need to come up with set procedures in handling humanitarian assistance that includes cash and medical assistance, preparing evacuation routes, short-term as well as long-term shelters, and engaging in drills.

Later in the day, he met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the Japanese prime minister.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Prayut-discusses-rail-plans-and-agriculture-trade--30256041.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-15