On 19 November 2022, H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, had a bilateral meeting with the Honorable Kamala Harris,
Vice President of the United States, during her visit on 17 – 20 November 2022 to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. The Vice President congratulated Thailand on the leading role and success of the APEC Host Year, expressing the United States’ readiness to build upon the existing cooperation for the United States’ APEC Host Year in 2023, while the Prime Minister appreciated the United States’ support throughout Thailand’s Host Year and reiterated readiness to support the United States’ Host Year.

Both sides were pleased with the close Thailand – United States partnership, which has continued to see increasing dynamism and underscored their commitments to enhance the multi-faceted cooperation, both at bilateral and regional levels, based on shared values and common interests, particularly in line with the Thailand-U.S. Communiqué on Strategic Alliance and Partnership, and on the occasion of the 190th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2023.

On the economic cooperation, the Prime Minister highlighted the increasing bilateral trade despite the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting the resilience of our supply chain. Both sides committed to working together to further develop supply chain cooperation based on the Thailand – United States Memorandum on Promoting Supply Chain Resilience, signed in July 2022. The Prime Minister also emphasized readiness to work with the United States to further promote investment cooperation in Thailand’s targeted industries, particularly clean energy, electric vehicle (EV), smart electronics, digital industry, and medical hub industry.

Both sides were pleased with the progress made on the cooperation related to climate and environment. Relevant agencies is working closely to develop collaboration programs under the United States’ Net Zero World Initiative to support Thailand’s transition to zero-emission energy as well as potential cooperation to enhance capacity-building on clean energy under the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Technology (FIRST).

The Prime Minister and the Vice President also discussed building upon our strong partnership on security and law enforcement in addressing both conventional and modern-day security challenges. In this regard, both sides are working closely to enhance capacity building in law enforcement and preventing and suppressing transnational crimes, including on combatting narcotics trafficking, enhancing marine patrol capability, and anti-money laundering.

On this occasion, both sides deliberated on key global issues and regional developments. Thailand stressed its readiness to support the United States’ increasing role and constructive engagement in the region. The Prime Minister also reaffirmed the commitment to work together closely to support fostering tangible cooperation under the Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), and Mekong – U.S. Partnership, for the prosperity of the peoples in the region. The U.S. also plans to provide additional USD 20 million to promote development cooperation in Mekong sub-region through Japan-U.S. Mekong Power Partnership (JUMPP)