Fifth US-Thai Strategic Dialogue held in Bangkok

BANGKOK, December 16 (TNA) - The United States and Thailand have held their fifth strategic dialogue in Bangkok, aimed to further develop bilateral ties and cooperation on public health, anti-human trafficking and the prevention and suppression of transnational crime in various forms. The 5th US-Thai Strategic Dialogue was held at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 16, co-chaired by visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel R.Russel and Thai Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Aphichart Chinwanno and also attended by US Ambassador to Thailand Glyn T. Davies and Chargé d'Affaires in Thailand Patrick E. Murphy Aphichart said that Wednesday morning's 5th US-Thai Strategic Dialogue represented a step forward of long-standing US-Thailand relations, expressing his hope that results from the meeting would mutually benefit both allied countries and pave the way for new national development strategies and joint solutions to problems with common interests. Aphichart also expressed his hope that the United States and Thailand would maintain bilateral goodwill and friendship lastingly. In response, the visiting US assistant secretary of state thanked the Thai side for a gracious welcome and attempts to organise the 5th US-Thai Strategic Dialogue, saying he believed the meeting would come up with new joint national plans between Washington and Bangkok. Wednesday's dialogue was held amid reportedly enhancing US-Thai relations and cooperation for the sake of mutual benefits in various areas, namely military and security, trade and investment, education, science and energy. The US-Thai Strategic Dialogue is a channel and mechanism for foreign policy makers of both countries to develop mutual understanding and confidence through their discussions and exchanges of in-depth information and views concerning strategic issues in the political, security, economic and social spheres, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interests, including those concerning the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and the South China Sea. (TNA)