FOREIGN MINISTER KASIT: Good morning, dear friends from the press, from the media circle. This morning, Madame Secretary of State of the United States Hillary Clinton did have a short bilateral meeting with me. We went through some of the important aspect of the bilateral relations.
We also touch upon some of the major international issues, and we also reaffirmed to one another working very closely bilaterally and within the ASEAN context, particularly the ASEAN-U.S. dialogue, and also in other regional organizations.
We are being reaffirmed by the continued President's interest and full participation of the United States in the area for the well-being of the Asia Pacific area, for Southeast Asia, for –peace, security, and development.
And, having said that, may I give the floor to Madame Secretary, please?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you so much, Minister Kasit, and it is such a pleasure to be here in one of the most beautiful places on earth. And I want to thank the Government of Thailand for hosting the ASEAN post-ministerial conference.
I’ve had a number of productive conversations here in Phuket, with our partners in ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum. And I think we’ve laid the groundwork for future collaboration on urgent issues, from North Korea and Burma, to the threat of terrorism and the scourge of human trafficking. And I’m looking forward, in the weeks to come, to do the follow-up that has come out of our discussions.
The foreign minister and I have just had an excellent conversation about how our nations can deepen and broaden the partnership that we have for the good of our people. As I said yesterday in Bangkok after my meeting with the prime minister and the deputy prime minister, Thailand is a leader in the world that is of great economic and strategic importance.
The United States is committed to working closely with Thailand on national, regional, and global issues. We’re going to make even better one of the longest and strongest friendships that my country has anywhere in the world. And as Thailand resolves its current political challenges, the people of Thailand can count on the United States to work with you to find a path forward that honors your democratic traditions.
So I want again to thank you, Minister, for such an important and extremely well-organized and implemented conference. I thank the people of Thailand for your hospitality, and I look forward to returning in the future, and to working together to strengthen and deepen this important friendship and alliance that has stood the test of time. Thank you so much, sir.
FOREIGN MINISTER KASIT: Thank you very much.
