On 23 August 2007, Mr. John Schaus, Executive Officer of the President, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Mrs. Patricia Cleveland, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Programs, Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland College Park, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, on the occasion of their visit to Thailand under the Program of bringing the American scholars to Thailand organized by the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. This program aims to strengthen the cordial ties between related parties of the two countries and to exchange views among them on various issues concerning Thailand US relations, together with the enhancement of further academic cooperation between Thailand and the US.