On 24th November 2014, Mr. Manasvi Srisodapol, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered opening remarks with H.E. Mr. Shigekazu Sato, Japanese Ambassador to Thailand at the opening ceremony of the seminar on “Thailand - Japan Cooperation, Past and Future” on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Thailand-Japan Cooperation. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, former Secretary-General of ASEAN. The objective of the seminar was to review strength and weakness and lessons learned from receiving Japanese ODA to develop Thai economy and collaboration with Japan in providing assistance to CLMV, GMS, and the establishment of the ASEAN community in order to formulate strategies of future Thailand-Japan Cooperation.
In this occasion, Ms. Suchada Thaibunthao, Director-General of TICA, joined the panel discussion with representatives from JICA, the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), the Public Debt Management Office, and the Office of the National Economics and Social Development Board on Thailand-Japan Cooperation Post 2015. After that, Director-General of TICA and Mr. Shuichi Ikeda, Chief Representative of JICA, made a statement to the media at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit.