Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow has underscored the importance of proactive economic diplomacy, particularly in areas that respond to global transformation and the new world economy, including energy transition, green economy, and advanced technologies.

The Deputy Prime Minister on 9 May 2026 delivered policy guidance to Thai officials, under the Team Thailand in Japan, during his visit to the 26th Thai Festival in Tokyo. 

He also stressed the need to elevate Thailand’s standards and regulations to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) standards, as well as the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared challenges, such as cybersecurity and the threat of online scams.

On the same day, the Deputy Prime Minister presided over the opening ceremony of the 26th Thai Festival in Tokyo. He reaffirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to laying a strong foundation for Thailand’s creative economy, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration with Japanese creative economy agencies in preparation for the upcoming celebration of the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Japan in 2027.

The Thai Festival in Tokyo is the largest Thai festival held overseas and one of Tokyo’s most prominent cultural exchange events, attracting over 300,000 visitors annually. The 26th edition of the festival took place on 9-10 May at Yoyogi Park under the theme “Creative Life and Creative Heartbeat.” The event aimed to support Thailand’s nation-branding efforts by offering a firsthand experience of Thai culture, while creating opportunities for Thai products, services, and creative industries to expand from the local to the global stage.

Thailand and Japan share a longstanding and close relationship. The two countries have consistently supported one another, including during times of crisis. In addition, Thailand serves as Japan’s principal investment base in Southeast Asia, with more than 6,000 Japanese companies located in Thailand (the highest number in ASEAN). 

Japan is also Thailand’s largest source of accumulated foreign investment, with total Japanese investment over the past 10 years amounting to 841.517 billion baht. As such, the two countries elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.