During a week-long visit to Washington D.C. from April 19th to April 24th, Thai Deputy Foreign Minister, Don Pramudwinai, held a series of consultations with several Members of the Congress from both the Senate and the House of Representatives on issues of mutual interest.  

In all meetings, Deputy Foreign Minister Don was touched by the enormous goodwill of Members of the Congress from both chambers and both sides of the aisles toward Thailand and the time-tested Thai-US relationship that marked 182 years this year. 

 

            Both sides agreed that a strong Thai-U.S. alliance is crucial for the successful Rebalance toward Asia policy of the US Government. Given the strategic role that Thailand has long played in the region, they agreed that Thailand and the US should work closer together to promote peace, stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia and the larger East Asia. They also agreed that the US can and should do more to be a part of the economic dynamism and integration taking place in the Mainland Southeast Asia. 

 

            In the meantime, they underlined the need to further strengthen trade and investment relations between the two countries, with Members of the Congress welcoming in particular growing investment of Thai companies in the US which has helped to create jobs for Americans.   

 

            Deputy Foreign Minister Don informed Members of the Congress about the large reservoir of goodwill that exists among the Thai people toward the US. Both sides agreed that it is important to continue to nurture and enlarge this reservoir of goodwill among the peoples of both countries.  

 

            Deputy Foreign Minister Don briefed Members of the Congress about political developments in Thailand and emphasized the Thai Government’s firm commitment to bring about a stronger and more sustainable democracy for all people of Thailand. Members of the Congress encouraged the Thai Government to continue moving forward in accordance with the Roadmap toward democracy, while emphasizing the importance of stability and prosperity of Thailand for the region. 

 

            Deputy Foreign Minister Don also updated Members of the Congress about earnest efforts by the Thai Government to combat human trafficking, with the Thai Prime Minister declaring it a national agenda, and the significant progress made since the present Government took office in September 2014. He emphasized that the Thai Government, with the protection of human rights and human dignity at the center, will continue to spare no effort to combat human trafficking. 

Members of the Congress acknowledged the strong political will of the Thai Government which has led to many concrete results since taking office and believed that the US should do more to encourage and cooperate with Thailand to jointly tackle this complex problem that every country is facing, including the US.