Looking beyond a new era of partnership

※本日2024年8月19日付けバンコクポストにおいても、私見を簡潔に述べさせて頂きました。

Birds of a feather

Re: "New realities in Japan-Thailand ties" (BP, Aug 15).
　Japan and Thailand share many things in common; in the past they both were exceptions among Asian and African nations in that the Western colonisation did not happen. These days, both countries face daunting social challenges such as a dwindling birth rate and an aging population that will weigh down on economic management. Japan has long suffered from its ultra-low growth since the 1990s, and Thailand may follow suit if the government fails to put its prudent, down-to-earth economic policy in place. No panacea for overnight productivity enhancement and little doubt a strong political leadership and consistent economic policy required to allocate the limited fiscal resources to the most productive sector with huge potential and lasting financial impact on equitable and inclusive growth.
　I do believe that the two countries can find ways to further foster economic partnership hand-in-hand to rise to the challenge ahead. The world knows that Japan has long been a good friend and a true contributor for Thailand's transition to export-driven economic powerhouse in the region. Despite being eclipsed by China lately, Japan has consistently been No.1 foreign investor in Thailand over the past 20 years and this likely remains so if Japan finds good reasons to invest in Thailand, not neighboring ASEAN countries.