17-11-2023 (SAN FRANCISCO) Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to meet with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in San Francisco. The summit, taking place on Friday, will provide an opportunity for the leaders to discuss a wide range of issues.
During the summit, Prime Minister Srettha is scheduled to have a meeting with US President Biden at the Apec dinner. Their discussion is expected to cover various topics of mutual interest. Additionally, the Thai Prime Minister will also hold a meeting with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
In addition to his engagements with the US, Prime Minister Srettha has planned bilateral talks with other world leaders. These include meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte. The discussions aim to strengthen cooperation and ties between Thailand and these countries.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Srettha held bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. During their meeting, the Thai Prime Minister assured Mr. Kishida that the Thai government would continue to support Japanese production of vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) even as Thailand transitions to electric vehicles (EV). Mr. Kishida emphasized the importance of the automotive industry and pledged to further develop the sector in Thailand.
Both countries agreed in principle on a visa-free policy for businesspeople to facilitate travel, according to Prime Minister Srettha. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will study the details of this policy. Furthermore, Prime Minister Srettha accepted Mr. Kishida’s invitation to attend the Asean-Japan summit in Tokyo, scheduled for December 16-18.
Before attending the summit, Prime Minister Srettha engaged with executives and representatives from prominent US corporations, including Tesla, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, Microsoft, and Citigroup. Discussions focused on various topics, including the Land Bridge megaproject. Citigroup expressed support for the scheme during discussions with the Thai Prime Minister. The government plans to host a dinner for Microsoft executives who will visit Thailand early next year, with the aim of promoting business matching and advancing the country’s digital development.
During his time at the summit, Prime Minister Srettha visited a Boeing exhibition, where he observed an unmanned helicopter that may become commercially available within the next 7-8 years. The Prime Minister also delivered a speech at the Apec CEO Summit 2023, emphasizing Thailand’s openness to investment and highlighting the Land Bridge megaproject.
Thai trade representative Narumon Pinyosinwat reported that Japanese ambassador Kazuya Nashida assured the Thai government of Japan’s readiness to collaborate under Prime Minister Srettha’s leadership. Ambassador Nashida proposed that Thailand become a production hub for vehicles with various engines during the transition to the EV industry. Japan’s Green Growth Strategy aligns with Thailand’s plan to promote a green economy and clean energy. Japan also supports the adoption of clean energy in the manufacturing sector.
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