Mr. Tana Weskosith, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the MFA, presided over the Royal Decoration Ceremony for Mr. SADOSHIMA Shiro, former Ambassador of Japan to Thailand, in recognition of his prominent role in promoting the close ties of friendship and cooperation between Thailand and Japan. Participants from the Thai side who witnessed the ceremony were Mr. Chittipat Tongprasroeth, Director-General of the Department of Protocol, Mrs. Chanida Kamalanavin, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Protocol, Miss Pinsuda Jayanama, Deputy Director-General of the Department of East Asian Affairs, whereas H.E. Mr. NASHIDA Kazuya, Ambassador of Japan, and Mr. Vikrom Kromadit, founder and chief executive officer of Amata Corporation PCL were the participants from the Japanese side.

          Mr. SADOSHIMA Shiro was conferred with the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant of Thailand on the occasion of his retirement as the Ambassador of Japan to Thailand. During his years serving as Ambassador of Japan, Mr. SADOSHIMA had worked to strengthen the Thai-Japanese relations in various aspects and levels. Such stronger ties underscored by Mr. SADOSHIMA’s significant performance in pushing forward economic cooperation and promoting new collaboration between private sectors, notably, his dedication in encouraging colossal Japanese investments in the Eastern Economic Corridor, his constant involvement on innovation in AMATA Smart City Project under the trilateral cooperation between Thailand, Japan, and China, and his leading role in creating concrete development in the area of transport of the high-speed railway project connecting three airports. Moreover, Mr. Sadoshima was also an integral part of the celebration of the 130^th anniversary of Thai-Japanese diplomatic relations in 2017 through several events.