Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Mr. EGUCHI Masaru, Vice Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture

29/08/2022

On 26 August 2022, H.E. Mr. Singtong Lapidatepun, Ambassador of Thailand to Japan, paid a courtesy call on Mr. EGUCHI Masaru, Vice Governor, on behalf on Mr. HATTORI Seitaro, Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture, at the Fukuoka Prefectural Government Office on the occasion of visiting Fukuoka Prefecture. Mr. Sorut Sukthaworn, Consul-General of Thailand to Fukuoka, also attended the said courtesy call.

Ambassador Singtong and Mr. EGUCHI agreed to strengthen all areas of cooperation between Thailand and Fukuoka Prefecture. Thailand and Fukuoka Prefecture has enjoyed close and friendly relations. In particular, the prefecture has established a Sister City cooperation with Bangkok 16 years ago.

Ambassador emphasized the importance of Fukuoka Prefecture as it is the economic center of the Kyushu region. The Royal Thai Government therefore decided to open the Consulate-General in Fukuoka in 2018,which enables Thailand to forge even closer ties with Fukuoka Prefecture and the Kyushu region.

The Ambassador hopes that, as Japan is easing border measures into Japan in September, economic and tourist exchange will become vibrant again, close to pre-COVID-19 level.

The two sides were pleased that recently Thai Vietjet Air has started a direct flight between Bangkok and Fukuoka Prefecture, which allows people from both countries to travel more conveniently. Ambassador Singtong further informed Mr. EGUCHI that currently Japanese people can travel to Thailand easily. It is hoped that the recent determination of the Japanese Government to further relax the border measures will allow more exchange of visits and tourism between both sides.