On 6 October 2011, Mrs. Kristie Kenney, US Ambassador to Thailand, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, whereby both sides exchanged views on various topics of common interest such as the Thai-US relations, the official visit to Myanmar and Cambodia of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Thailand’s role in ASEAN.
On this occasion, the US Ambassador thanked Foreign Minister Surapong for his visit to New York to attend the 66th Sesssion of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last month and said that she looks forward to welcoming him again in November to attend the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Hawaii. The US Ambassador also expressed her appreciation to the Foreign Ministry for helping to coordinate the visit of Mr.William R. Brownfield, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in September and looks forward to working closely again for the upcoming visit of Mr.Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, next week.
With regards to the Thai-US relations, the US Ambassador commended Thailand and the US for their strategic partnership, as evident in the various cooperation programs such as the Thailand-US Creative Partnership, the Lower Mekong Initiative, cooperation in producing vaccines for Dengue fever and HIV aids, as well as other humanitarian assistance projects, which not only helped strengthen relations but also proved beneficial to the peoples of neighbouring countries. As such, Foreign Minister Surapong proposed convening the 4th Thai-US Strategic Partnership to review all-rounded cooperation and seek new areas of cooperation.
Foreign Minister Surapong also took this opportunity to inform the US Ambassador of the outcome of Prime Minister Yingluck’s official visit to Myanmar. There, the Thai Prime Minister held a bilateral talk with President Thein Sein on various issues such as labour, drug and narcotics problems, humanitarian assistance for displaced persons along the border, the development of Dawei deep seaport and industrial estates along the border and the upgrading of border checkpoints to meet international standard, which the US Ambassador expressed congratulations for the successful visit.
In response to the US Ambassador’s inquiry on the outcome of Prime Minister Yingluck’s visit to Cambodia, Foreign Minister Surapong said that after the visit, relations between Thailand and Cambodia improved tremendously. Cooperation in trade and investment continues. In this regard, the US Ambassador congratulated Thailand for her success in restoring relations with Cambodia.
As for cooperation in ASEAN, Foreign Minister Surapong said that Thailand has been preparing herself for the ASEAN Community in 2015. As such, Foreign Minister Surapong would propose an English language curriculum to the Cabinet so that Thai students would be able to communicate with their ASEAN friends. Thailand attached high priority to strengthening the ASEAN connectivity, whether they be in form of infrastructure, culture or language.
The US Ambassador expressed her condolence for the current flooding situation in Thailand, as well as readiness to cooperate on any assistance Thailand may need. In this regard, Foreign Minister Surapong said that Thailand wished to learn from the US the know-how for high-accuracy satellite weather forecast, emergency warnings and flood management from the US. The US Ambassador welcomed the proposal and said that this would not only benefit Thailand, but also other countries in the region as a whole.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th