BANGKOK, 9 March 2012 – The Japanese Crown Prince has expressed admiration for the close relationship between the royal families of Thailand and Japan while also stating his readiness to promote Thai-Japanese cooperation at all levels.
On the third day of her official visit to Japan, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was granted a royal audience with Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, during which the PM kept His Royal Highness up to date with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s health condition as well as his royal duties.
Prime Minister Yingluck also expressed gratitude on behalf of the Thai people for the assistance which Japan had extended to Thailand during the flood crisis of 2011. The PM also assured the Crown Prince that Thailand has established a clear path to resolving the flood issue in a sustainable manner.
The PM also provided the Japanese Crown Prince with details of Thai-Japanese cooperation, which is progressing at all levels. Thailand and Japan are also engaged in an economic alliance, particularly in environmental-friendly industry, energy, logistics, and human resources development.
Following the audience with the Japanese Crown Prince, Prime Minister Yingluck and her entourage traveled from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Natori’s Sendai Airport to hear a briefing on the 2011 tsunami incident. The PM then visited the Nikon factory to meet and give moral support to approximately 100 Thai workers, who are temporarily working at the factory following the natural disaster.
Damage sustained from the tsunami of 11 March 2011 is still evident in the city of Natori in the Japanese prefecture of Miyagi, where an area of 27 km., or 80% of the city’s total area, was destroyed. The catastrophe led to 911 fatalities and 55 people unaccounted for. Full recovery of the city is expected to be completed within two years.
