    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [August 6, 2008]
    [Pages 1112-1114]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej of Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand
    August 6, 2008

        Prime Minister Samak. We are pleased to welcome President Bush visit
    to Thailand on the auspicious occasion of the celebration of 155th--75th
    anniversary of Thai-U.S. relations. As Thailand has now assumed the
    ASEAN chairmanship, we will use the opportunity to strengthen our
    engagement and cooperation with the U.S., both bilaterally and through
    ASEAN.
        President Bush and I had just a very good discussion on several
    issues of common interest. We discussed the strengthen of the close
    military and the security cooperation, which benefit both country and
    the region. A case of--in point is our military close partnership during
    the tsunami and post-Cyclone Nargis to facilitate access of American
    relief and assistance to the affected countries.
        We will continue our discussion on the other regional issues over
    the dinner this evening. President Bush expressed his appreciation for
    Thailand's humanitarian role in sheltering displaced persons from
    neighboring countries for over 30 years. I also thanked the President
    for the United States understanding on the Preah Vihear issue.
        We agreed to enhance the Thai-U.S. relation by focusing on
    education, public health, sciences, security, and the law enforcement
    cooperation. Our two countries share the long and special connection.
    President Bush--former President Bush senior and Mrs. Barbara Bush came
    to Thailand to pay tribute to His Majesty the King on the occasion of
    the 60th anniversary of accession to the throne in December 2006.
        Looking towards the future, we agreed that our alliance and
    friendship will remain firm and close as have been in the past 144--174
    years. We are determined to continue working closely together to further
    strengthen our relationship and good will for the benefit of our two
    countries and the region.
        President Bush. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Sawatdee khrap.
    [Laughter] Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for welcoming Laura and me and our daughter Barbara to your beautiful country. I want to thank you very much
    for welcoming us on behalf of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen.
    We appreciate the opportunity to come back, and we honor the

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    friendship that has been in existence for 175 years.
        I want to thank you very much for being such a strong ally in the
    war against terror. Our nations are strengthening our security and
    defense cooperation. Thailand continues to host Cobra Gold, which is one
    of the largest annual multilateral training exercises in Southeast Asia.
        Thailand's troops have helped the people of Iraq and Afghanistan as
    they battle extremists and strengthen their democracy, and I want to
    thank you for those contributions, Mr. Prime Minister. America and
    Thailand are coordinating our law enforcement, counterterrorism, and
    counterproliferation activities so we can do a better job of protecting
    our citizens from danger.
        The United States and Thailand are working to expand freedom with
    good governance. I want to thank you very much and congratulate the
    people of Thailand for restoring its democracy. Through the Asia Pacific
    Democracy Partnership, our nations are working together to strengthen
    democratic values and institutions throughout the region. As the chair
    of ASEAN, we support your efforts to reduce trade barriers and to expand
    economic opportunity and help Southeast Asia grow in hope.
        The United States and Thailand work together to fight disease. I
    don't think our citizens understand this, Mr. Prime Minister, but we've
    dedicated $35 million to help prevent and treat HIV/AIDS here in
    Thailand, and we're happy to do so. I'm looking forward to going
    tomorrow to the clinic where we get to see the efforts of the
    initiative. It's called the Mercy Centre, and I appreciate you arranging
    that, for me to go see, Mr. Prime Minister.
        We're also working on avian flu. I think it's very important for our
    nations to prepare for the worst. Obviously, we're hoping for the best.
    And so we've got a good, strong initiative on avian flu.
        We're working together to help the people of Burma. We responded
    very quickly when Burma was struck by the terrible cyclone, and I want
    to thank you very much for your leadership on that issue. After all,
    yours was the place where much of the world aid came to be distributed
    to the poor people there that were deeply affected by the storm.
        We want to see prosperity and freedom restored to Burma. Tomorrow
    Laura is going to the Thai-Burmese border to
    visit a resettlement camp where Burmese refugees are receiving health
    care and humanitarian aid. She's looking forward to the trip, and I'm
    looking forward to hearing her report from the trip.
        So, Mr. Prime Minister, I want to thank you very much for your
    hospitality. I want to thank you for feeding my delegation. We're
    looking forward to eating some good Thai food, which is very famous
    throughout the world. Please give my very best regards to His
    Majesty and Her Majesty.
        Prime Minister Samak. I will.
        President Bush. And thank you very much for being so gracious.
        Prime Minister Samak. All right. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 7:51 p.m. at the Government House. In his
    remarks, the President referred to King Phumiphon Adunyadet and Queen
    Sirikit of Thailand.

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