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On November 5, 2019 (local time), Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is visiting Bangkok in the Kingdom of Thailand to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-related Summit Meetings and other events, attended a breakfast meeting with members of locally based Japanese companies.
 
The Prime Minister said in his address,
 
“I would like to sincerely thank all of you for taking time out of your very busy schedules to gather here this morning. You are playing a significant role in Thailand and here in Asia, which is truly a center of global growth. I have organized this meeting today because I wish to hear your views on a wide range of topics.
 
There are more than 6,000 Japanese companies in Thailand, and more than 70,000 Japanese people living here, including expats from Japan. Thailand has truly a very significant presence for Japan.
 
In the past, I worked in a company called Kobe Steel. I was in charge of the export of steel sheets to Southeast Asia. We relied on Thailand whenever we faced any difficulty and, when we could not sell enough in the region, we just exerted every effort in Thailand; I cannot disclose the prices we set at that time. Anyway, Thailand has presented huge business opportunities for Japanese companies, in particular in infrastructural development such as the development of the East-West Economic Corridor. Southeast Asia, and its regional hub of Thailand, have a robust demand for infrastructure, and hold great potential. Furthermore, I have heard that Japanese start-ups are also succeeding in the digital sector in Thailand. I have great expectations that these new industries will produce new values that meet consumers’ needs.
 
Today, the world is undergoing dramatic change. Against this background, Japan, as a standard-bearer for free trade, is leading this major trend, as seen in the TPP11 Agreement (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), the Japan-EU (European Union) EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement), and the Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement. Just yesterday, in the discussion on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), we have been making progress towards an agreement in the field of rules. Japan will exercise its leadership until the very end. Even amidst such significant changes, the relationship between Japan and ASEAN remains completely unchanged. To put it differently, I believe that this relationship is becoming even more solid. I have also visited most of the countries of ASEAN about twice each, and I think that Japan and ASEAN have never been as close as we are today. Not only in the fields of diplomacy and the economy but also in the field of security, as well as interpersonal relationships, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, progress is being made.
 
In light of this, the efforts of people such as yourselves, who are truly playing significant roles in this country, are extremely important for strengthening the trust in Japan and building the foundations for such trust. I often hear from my counterparts that Japanese companies are very reliable, and that they would like those companies to invest in their countries. I would therefore like to once again express my sincere respect for the roles that you have all fulfilled.
 
Today, I hope to hear from all of you, as people who are working hard in this country, and reflect your views into our policies. I would appreciate your kind cooperation. Thank you.”