On 26 December 2008, Mr. Eric G. John, US Ambassador, Mr. Zhang Jiuhuan, Chinese Ambassador and, Mr. Kyoji Komachi, Japanese Ambassador to Thailand, paid their courtesy calls to congratulate Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya respectively upon his assumption of office. The new Foreign Minister stressed the importance of the Royal Thai Government’s policy, to be announced before the Parliament on 29-30 December, as a promise to serve the Thai people and “commitment to the international community at large.” During the meeting between Foreign Minister Kasit and the US Ambassador, both sides shared the view that Thailand and the US are important alliance and agreed that closer consultations and cooperation will move Thai-US relations up to an even more comprehensive level. In that light, Bangkok and Washington will continue their dialogues in resolving issues such as Compulsory Licensing. Other issues discussed included Laotian Hmongs and the situation in Myanmar. Later, the Chinese Ambassador delivered the congratulatory message of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to Foreign Minister Kasit. Both sides were pleased with the comprehensive relations between the two countries economically, socially, and politically and also at the government-to-government, people-to-people, party-to-party levels. They also agreed to push forward the strategic cooperation. Ambassador Zhang reaffirmed the support of China to Thailand as the ASEAN Chair. Foreign Minister Kasit took this opportunity to encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Thailand. In the Afternoon, the Japanese Ambassador to Thailand, called on Foreign Minister Kasit with the congratulatory message from Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, his Japanese counterpart. Both sides discussed Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), cooperation in different areas including agriculture, environment, and energy for Mekong - Japan Exchange Year 2009 as well as cooperation in international organizations. The Foreign Minister also asked the Chinese and Japanese Ambassadors to convey to their capitals possible dates to hold the East Asian Summit, which Thailand as the ASEAN Chair will host early next year. He informed the Ambassadors on the timeframe of endorsing the 33 ASEAN-related agreements as well.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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