Publication > Newsletter > Newsletter 22> APCD Celebrates 120th Anniversary of Japan – Thailand Diplomatic Relations

APCD Celebrates 120th Anniversary of Japan – Thailand Diplomatic Relations

The year 2007 was important to Thai people since they celebrated His Majesty the King’s 80th birthday. It also marked the 120th Anniversary of Japan–Thailand Diplomatic Relations. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) and APCD together with the Embassy of Japan, organized a Memorial Seminar on the Development of Persons with Disabilities in the Asia–Pacific Region on 29 November 2007 at APCD, Bangkok. H.E. Mr. Paiboon Wattanasiritham, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Development and Human Security presided over the Opening Ceremony which was to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two Governments on disability issues.

The Opening Ceremony of the Memorial Seminar on Development of Persons with Disabilities in Asia-Pacific Region H.E. Mr. Tanin Kraivixian, Privy Councillor and Chairperson of APCD Foundation stated since disadvantaged groups including persons with disabilities have a low quality of life, cooperation at different levels is needed. The Japan-Thailand cooperation to empower persons with disabilities through the APCD Project has been publicly recognized. APCD Foundation, a nongovernmental organization will take a more crucial role in the future to administrate the Center particularly, in transforming APCD to become internationalized.

Mr. Katsuji Onoda, JICA Thailand Resident Representative stated since JICA has been promoting various kinds of projects in Thailand to help develop a better society for disabled persons for more than 3 decades, JICA and Thailand have collaborated in the APCD Project. JICA has experienced a paradigm shift on disability issues since some persons with disabilities are no longer subjects of Official Development Assistance but have become precious resource persons. He hopes that collaboration between Thailand and Japan will be strengthened in the future to promote an inclusive barrier-free society for all.

H.E. Mr. Hideaki Kobayashi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand stated that the modern nation-to-nation relationship between Japan and Thailand was established in 1887. The two countries have cherished their friendly and mutually beneficial relations in a number of fields including social development. This Memorial Seminar was one example of an important Japanese-Thai joint effort in the development of persons with disabilities which is an integral part to promote human security. He mentioned that the Government of Japan has conducted systematic reforms in areas which affect persons with disabilities such as living support, employment, education, mobility and accessibility. Through these reforms, a rights-based approach, support that meets users’ needs more effectively and more comprehensive systems were introduced. He also wished that the Japanese experience can be utilized to promote international cooperation in their field of development of persons with disabilities.

Thai Musical Show by Thai Autistic Foundation H.E. Paiboon Wattanasiritham, who chaired the opening of the Seminar, stated that Japan and Thailand have had more than 600years relations. Recently, through diplomatic relations, both countries have become “partners” in promoting quality of life for persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. The Thai Government through the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has agreed to continue the Technical Cooperation of the APCD Project for another 5 years. He noted that significant progress in disability issues has been made in Thailand and that the Government has approved a New Law for Disabled Persons, effective September 2009. This new Law entitled, “Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities B.E. 2007” emphasizes a rights-based approach to disability and has established a new department called the “National Office for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities”. Moreover, the Government has amended several laws affecting the quality of life of disabled persons in terms of education, employment, accessibility, etc.

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