For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 19, 2005
President Welcomes Prime Minister of Thailand to the White House
The Oval Office
2:52 P.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: It's been my honor to welcome the Prime Minister of
Thailand back to the -- to Washington. Thank you for coming, Mr. Prime
Minister. Laura and I were just talking the other evening about what a
wonderful visit we had to your country when you hosted APEC. It's reminded
me -- a thing about that visit reminded me of our close friendship. The
Prime Minister is a person who believes in markets and free enterprise and
freedom. And I'm really, really pleased he's here.
We had a -- we talked about a lot of subjects. One subject that I'm
particularly interested in is avian flu, and the need for our countries to
work together. Thailand is a leader in putting systems in place that will
track the virus as it attacks different birds and watch it very carefully
to make sure that there's no bird-to-human transmission in his country.
He's willing to work in the neighborhood, for which I'm grateful. All of
us need to be mindful of this potentially devastating disease. And we've
got a good friend and a very thoughtful leader when it comes to that
subject.
We talked about North Korea, we talked about the neighborhood, we talked
about our economies. We would like to get a free trade agreement concluded
here as quickly as possible, and the Prime Minister made that very clear to
me.
All in all, it was a very good visit, covering a lot of subjects, and I'm
not surprised, because I'm visiting with a good friend. So, welcome, Mr.
Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN: Thank you, Mr. President. It's my pleasure to
visit Washington, D.C. again. It's my third time to come to -- and this
trip I have been -- discussed with the President about the bilateral and
also the regional issues, and Asia, as well. And we had a very good visit.
I committed to President Bush that we are pressing ahead with the FTA, and
also we will work closely with U.S. by drafting the plan of action in the
cooperation between our two countries, and also with the third country, as
well, with the two countries we would like to work together with, in
helping or in working with other countries.
I also want to welcome the President to meet with the ASEAN seven during
APEC meeting in November in Korea.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Finally, I do want to thank the Prime Minister and His
Majesty for sending relief supplies to our folks that have been affected by
Hurricane Katrina. This good country has just come through a tsunami, and
they're on their way to recovery. And yet they were able to, through their
-- because of their generous hearts, ship help. And so thanks very much,
and please thank His Majesty for his generous contribution to the folks
down there.
Thank you.
END 2:56 P.M. EDT
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