Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul emphasized the Thailand-Japan strategic partnership, saying that their strengths should be leveraged to complement each other, shifting from "producing for" to "co-producing" as integral parts of a shared supply chain, based on mutual benefit.

The Prime Minister chaired a meeting of “Team Thailand” in Tokyo on 21 September 2026 to discuss the directions of Thai-Japanese relations toward a dynamic strategic partnership.

Speaking at the meeting, he cited changes in technology, the environment, and geopolitics as major factors shaping Thai-Japanese cooperation in the future. Thailand continues to attach importance to Japanese direct investment. 

Regarding the automotive industry, Thailand's cooperation with Japan over the past several decades has built a strong supply chain in the country, with a large volume of domestic automotive parts manufacturing. However, the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) has changed the competitive structure, and investors from other countries have played an increased role in industries related to batteries, electronics, and semiconductors.

The Prime Minister noted Japan's strong potential and continued interest in investing in Thailand and the region. He stressed that Thailand should take advantage of its long-term ties with Japan to strengthen bilateral cooperation, focusing on investments that integrate with existing Japanese supply chains and that can expand into new high-value industries. 

He also urged Team Thailand and other relevant agencies to closely follow up on Thai-Japanese relations and economic cooperation, collecting information and submitting recommendations to the Government, especially concerning trade, investment, energy, and industrial development.

After his mission in Japan, the Prime Minister and his delegation departed for the United States to attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) during High-level Week, from 21-24 September, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

During High-level Week, the Prime Minister will deliver a national statement on behalf of Thailand in the General Debate and have bilateral meetings with senior United Nations officials and leaders of various countries.