BANGKOK, July 23 – Thailand has offered Japan financial assistance of Bt5 million to help address Japan’s recent natural disasters, both flooding and landslides, in the southwestern island of Kyushu.
Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, as the government’s representative, presented the funds to Japanese Embassy to Thailand’s Political Affairs Minister Takashi Okada.
Mr Surapong expressed condolences on behalf of the government and people of Thailand and expressed his desire that Japan can revive from the twin disasters as soon as possible.
The Thai foreign minister said the assistance was to affirm Thai-Japanese relations as close countries that help each other in times of crisis.
Mr Takashi thanked the Thai government for such aid, noting that Thailand was the first nation assisting Japan for this matter.
Kyushu’s four prefectures –Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Oita, and Saga– were hit by Tropical Storm Khanun’s heavy rain in mid-July and the natural disasters followed. The Thai prme minister earlier visited two of the prefectures.
