Opening Remarks
by
H.E. Mr. Sompong Amornvivat,
Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
at
The Thai-U.S. Think-Tank Summit
14 October 2008, 09.00 hrs.
Centara Grand Hotel, Central World, Bangkok
____________
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased and honored to address such a distinguished and knowledgeable audience. I thank you all for your presence today, particularly our American friends, most of whom are important policy advisors to the presidential candidates and have kindly made time from their busy schedule to join us here. I also thank the co-organisers, namely the Thailand Research Fund, the Thailand Development Research Institute, and the Institute of Security and International Studies of Chulalongkorn University, for their hard work and efforts which has made possible this gathering of experienced and knowledgeable scholars and practitioners.
As you all are well aware, Thailand is facing significant political challenges. The Government is doing its best to find a peaceful resolution to the political difficulties and to ensure that government business, cooperation with foreign partners, and life in general goes on as usual. The fact that we are able to host this event today is a testament to this. The fact that our American friends have traveled far to participate also signifies their understanding and confidence that the challenges that Thailand face can be peacefully resolved.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today’s Thai-U.S. Think-Tank Summit is the first of its kind on this scale in Thai-U.S. relations. It is also timely, not only in marking 175 years of relations, but also in welcoming the next US administration and the start of a new chapter in Thai-U.S. and U.S.-Southeast Asian relations. In the 175 years of our relations, we have seen the bonds between Thailand and the U.S. grow closer and stronger. We are friends and partners that have weathered many storms together. We share mutual interests in a wide range of fields. Indeed, our relationship is multifaceted and comprehensive, and today’s event adds yet another dimension to the relations.
This dimension is a crucial one. In today’s world, policymakers can rarely separate themselves from academia or the so-called “track-two” process. Knowledge plays a key role in making policy efficient. And through its country-wide network of think-tanks and research institutes, the U.S. has much knowledge at its disposal. We in Thailand hope to achieve the same. That is why we have organised this Summit. We seek to learn from U.S. experience and expertise, to exchange knowledge and views between our think-tanks and leading experts, and to work together to develop Thai think-tanks to an even higher level. I think yesterday’s brainstorming session helped move us closer to this goal. Today’s Summit I am sure will do the same.
Learning, however, is not a one-way street. Just as Thailand gained knowledge of Western medicine and technology from American missionaries since the days of Dr. Bradley, the U.S. can likewise draw upon the wealth of Thai and Asian knowledge and experience. Today, for instance, the U.S. may draw lessons from Asian experiences in handling our own financial crisis in 1997. But not only that. We also now have experience in developing alternative energy, crop substitution policies, and agricultural technology. These are just a few examples of knowledge that can be exchanged and shared. The fact that we have with us today many leading U.S. experts in various fields demonstrates our countries’ recognition that knowledge as a two-way street. These experts are here not only to impart their wisdom but also to learn more about Asia and Asians firsthand.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We also have other aims for today. We hope to disseminate knowledge and information to as wide an audience as possible. We hope to stimulate debate and greater understanding between us. Greater understanding leads to better policy inputs leading to better policy outcome. And this is crucial as we will be seeing a new administration in the U.S. and have already seen a new one in Thailand. It is a time of prospective change in our relations, but we have to work together to ensure that the change is for the better. It is well known that U.S. think-tanks play a larger role in foreign policy making than their counterparts worldwide. Many U.S. academics have crossed over to becoming policy advisers and policymakers themselves. Both presidential candidates have leading Asia experts on their policy team and many of our American guests here have made policy recommendations on U.S. policy towards Asia. The presidential candidates themselves have their own history with Southeast Asia and I hope that such first-hand knowledge and experience will help shape their policy towards this region.
We in Thailand hope to see a similarly enhanced role played by our academics, to see their greater input into policymaking. This is because we all have a role to play in finding the correct policy which would lead to greater and better engagement between the U.S. and Thailand, and also between the U.S. and Southeast Asia. Thailand as the current ASEAN Chair sees today’s Summit not only beneficial to our bilateral relations with the U.S., but also to U.S. relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN. That is why we also have with us today leading experts from the region, who will share their invaluable insights with us.
In today’s globalised world, knowledge has no boundaries. But, unfortunately, the same holds true for problems and crisis. What affects our neighbours, affects us in Thailand and in ASEAN. What crises have befallen the U.S., financial or otherwise, affects Thailand and Southeast Asia too. Thus, today, we are faced with common challenges and obstacles that require joint efforts to resolve and overcome. But in order to work together successfully, we have to understand and know more about one another. I see before me the very people who can help advance us towards this aim, to help bridge the knowledge and cultural divide between us. Thailand’s foreign policy has also worked hard to build such bridges. The Thai Government has helped fund Thai Studies programs in leading U.S. universities, a Southeast Asia Studies program at the CSIS in Washington, and an American Studies program at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. These are steps which we hope can promote greater understanding between our two countries, regions, and peoples.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This Summit is another important step in bridging our cultural and knowledge gap. By attending this first Summit, you are pioneers. I sincerely hope that during the course of the day much benefit can be gained, much knowledge can be learned, and many views can be shared. I also sincerely hope that many more such Summits will be organised in the future, perhaps with a greater regional coverage. Let me wish you all the best in your deliberations. Thank you.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.