US, Japan pledge to work with new Thai government

BANGKOK. September 13 (TNA) - The United States and Japan have promised to work with the new Thai government of Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, as both major powers consider Thailand as a key ally in the region. US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie A. Kenney and Japanese Ambassador to Thailand Shigekazu Sato expressed the stance when paying their courtesy calls on new Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister General Thanasak Patimaprakorn at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok on Friday (Sept 12). The US and Japanese top envoys also congratulated General Thanasak for being appointed as the new deputy prime minister and foreign minister. General Thanasak, in turn, told them that the interim Thai government will follow its roadmap toward a national reform and democracy and will do everything possible to also strengthen the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). General Thanasak said, meanwhile, that he has also assigned Thai Foreign Ministry officials to prepare a 10-year strategy on foreign relations to match with policies of the Thai government in the future. (TNA)