Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has reassured Japanese businessmen that Thailand is getting back on track and political stability has now returned to the country.

He also pledged not to amend the Foreign Business Act, because it wanted to maintain an investment-friendly environment.

"We admit Thailand's situation was worsened by our own internal political unrest fuelled by unprecedented division in political stances and disunity last year from the siege of Government House and the closure of two airports in Bangkok," Mr Abhisit told a Tokyo gathering of business leaders during the second day of a three-day visit.

Mr Abhisit was referring to the thousands of People's Alliance for Democracy protesters who occupied Suvarnabhumi international airport and Don Mueang airport for a week late last year in an attempt to bring down the then People Power party-led government that was aligned with convicted fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The prime minister said he regretted the damage done to the country by the airport seizures, but assured his audience that his government would never permit any repetition of such an incident.

He said the government had made efforts to restore normalcy and achieve social reconciliation after delivering its policy statement to parliament in late-December.

"I stand before you [here] to reassure you that Thailand is getting back on track. The situation is back to a state of normalcy and we are promoting democracy based not only on the majority but also on good governance, transparency, justice and the rule of law."

He said even though the political situation is back to normal, the country has been hit by the global economic downturn and huge numbers of Thai workers face the risk of being made redundant.

He said the government has already approved an economic stimulus package worth 116 billion baht to cushion the impact.

He expressed confidence that with the stimulus package, his government would be able to steer the country away from an economic meltdown.

Mr Abhisit arrived late Thursday to begin his visit to Japan, Thailand's biggest foreign investor. He was due to meet Prime Minister Taro Aso later yesterday when they were likely to discuss Japan's investment in Thailand and Asean issues.

Japan accounts for about 40% of total foreign direct investment in Thailand and there are more than 7,000 Japanese firms operating in the kingdom.

In 2008, the Board of Investment approved more than 1,000 projects with an estimated investment cost of US$11 billion and 324 of these projects belonged to Japanese firms.

Mr Abhisit said the government has to prove Thailand is still "the land of smiles, land of the free, and land of opportunity" to invest in, especially in the agro industry, automobiles, textiles, electronics and food with a cost-effective workforce.

He also promised the government would look into laws and regulations that presently serve as impediments to business operations, beginning with the Foreign Business Act.

Mr Abhisit said the government would not change the law to make it more burdensome for foreigners to operate in Thailand and would ensure fair competition based on law, predictability and environmental protection.

The government also vowed to continue working on almost all megaprojects and major infrastructure construction from the previous government such as railways, water distribution projects and mass transit systems.Hideto Kiuchi, executive adviser to Toyo Aerosol Industry, said he felt relieved to a certain extent as Mr Abhisit had assured that there would be no repetition of the airport closures in Thailand and had pledged to continue supporting investment in infrastructure.