by Weena Kowitwanij

As Thailand's main trading partner, Japan expanded its investment by 60 per cent last year. Now the Dawei Special Economic Zone, set up by Myanmar and Thailand, offers more opportunity of partnership. The Japanese government thanks Thailand for its aid in the wake of the March 2011 earthquake.

Bangkok (AsiaNews) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akis Abe ended their visit to Thailand today. For two days, the Japanese leader and his Thai hosts discussed ways to boost bilateral economic cooperation and partnerships, like the Dawei Special Economic Zone, which involves Myanmar and Thailand. Abe's next visit is to Indonesia, third stop on his Southeast Asia tour after Vietnam and Thailand.

This is the first official visit by a Japanese leader in 11years after that of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in 2002. It marks 125 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Thailand.

During his stay, Abe met his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra, former ASEAN Secretary General Durin Pitsuwan and King Bhumibol Adulayadej, who is recovering in Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital.

The Japanese leader used the occasion to thank officially Thailand for its help following the Fukushima earthquake and nuclear accident of March 2011. He also used the opportunity to reiterate the "friendship" that unites the two kingdoms and peoples.

However, the economy dominated the discussions. Japan is currently Thailand's main trading partner, whilst Thailand is Japan's sixth.

Japanese investment in Thailand expanded by 60 per cent last year and the visit aims at stimulating Thai exports to Japan.

Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra urged her counterpart to involve Japan in the Dawei Special Economic Zone, a joint project between Myanmar and Thailand.  Both Southeast Asian nations would like to see Japan play a major role given its great technological capacity.

Thai and Japanese leaders also discussed the environment, security and high-speed trains.

Ms Shinawatra expressed her government's concerns over tensions in the Korean Peninsula and North Korea's nuclear programme, as well as its support for the six-nation talks.

Mr Abe, for his part, said that Thailand represented a 21^st century 'centre of growth', a gateway to ASEAN markets, that is already home to some 50,000 Japanese. For the prime minister, Thailand plays a strategic role in Japan's national interests.

• thailand
• japan
• myanmar
• indonesia
• shinzo
• abe
• visit
• yingluck
• shinawatra
• asean
• dawei
• special
• economic
• zone