Having completed his mission in New York City, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya traveled to Chicago for a 2-day mission before returning to Bangkok.
On 27 September 2009, Foreign Minister Kasit presided over the meeting of Thai Ambassadors and Consuls- General to North America and Latin America, held at the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chicago. The Minister briefed the Thai Ambassadors and Consuls-General on political and economic developments in Thailand. He highlighted government’s measures to address the economic crisis, in particular the stimulus packages I and II. He stressed that it is very important that greater knowledge and better understanding about Thailand be promoted in the Americas. In this light, he emphasized that cultural diplomacy could help promote a closer relationship especially at the people-to-people level.
On 28 September 2009, Foreign Minister Kasit visited the Northern Illinois University where the Government of Thailand extends cooperation to the university’s popular Thai Study Center. The Minister also gave a special lecture on “Thailand and the United States: Partnership for Change” to the students and faculty members. He highlighted that diplomatic relations have been cordial for the past 176 years, and in that context, Thailand and the US have enjoyed close and friendly relations in all dimensions. The two countries enjoy close cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks in such areas of mutual interest and concern as climate change, the global economic crisis, Myanmar and anti-terrorism.
Foreign Minister Kasit took this opportunity to talk about the Royal Thai Government’s economic stimulus packages. He emphasized that the Government adheres to a policy of facilitating foreign investment, where US businessmen could avail themselves of the opportunity to do businesses in the Kingdom of Thailand. He touched on the political situation in Thailand and domestic political reform, particularly the need to strengthen the role of civil society in the political arena, in which the US could share its experience with Thailand.
Foreign Minister Kasit also noted that, as ASEAN Chair, Thailand has played an active role in facilitating the establishment of the “ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)” which will be inaugurated during the 15th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Cha-am Hua Hin this October.
On the same day, the Thai Foreign Minister also had a working breakfast with a group of Chicago’s leading businessmen, visited the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) and had dinner with members of the Thai community in Chicago.
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