Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha left Thailand on Wednesday night to attend the 27th International Conference on the Future of Asia, also known as the Nikkei Forum in Tokyo, that runs from Thursday to Friday.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the premier was invited by event host Nikkei Inc which has organised the conference annually since 1995. The Japanese media giant owns The Nikkei and the Financial Times.
The theme is "Redefining Asia's Role in a Divided World", he said, adding it would focus on Asian unity which is essential to overcome complex global issues, such as the struggle for hegemony between the US and China, decarbonisation, disruptions in supply chains like semiconductors, and the disparity between rich and poor.
Gen Prayut first attended the Nikkei Forum last year via teleconference. This will be his first in-person visit.
Top political figures and national leaders attending either online or on-site include Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Malaysia Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith.
Mr Thanakorn said the visit will be Gen Prayut's first visit to Japan in three years, following his attendance at the Japanese Emperor's enthronement ceremony from Oct 22-23 in 2019.
"This will also be a good opportunity for the prime minister to meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida again after his official visit to Thailand early this month," he said.
Gen Prayut was due to leave Thailand before midnight and arrive in Tokyo at 6.30 am today.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon will leave for Malaysia on Thursday to join the 55th General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur to discuss security and economic development, the spokesman said.