[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 50 (Monday, December 17, 2001)]
[Pages 1790-1792]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Joint Statement Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of 
Thailand

December 14, 2001

    President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today 
reaffirmed the strength and vitality of the alliance between the United 
States and Thailand, celebrating a mature partnership that spans many 
fields of endeavor, based on a shared commitment to democracy, open 
markets with free and fair trade, human rights, and ethnic and religious 
tolerance. Noting U.S.-Thai cooperation in conflicts from World War II 
to the war on terrorism, the President and the Prime Minister expressed 
the conviction that the alliance has been a pillar of stability in the 
Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The two leaders agreed that the scourges 
of terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and other transnational threats 
demonstrate the continued need for a robust alliance into the 21st 
century. Highlighting their vibrant program of joint military exercises 
and training, including co-hosting the largest multilateral military 
exercise in Asia every year, the two leaders emphasized their 
determination to strengthen and revitalize the alliance, while working 
with partners throughout the region to combat common threats. The two 
leaders agreed on the importance of a strong and united ASEAN, and 
President Bush offered all appropriate assistance to support capacity-
building within ASEAN. The two leaders pledged to continue cooperation 
in promoting regional peace and stability through the ASEAN Regional 
Forum (ARF).
    President Bush expressed appreciation for the Thai Government's 
support for the campaign against terrorism, including efforts to 
identify terrorist assets and money flows, reinforce money-laundering 
legislation, and pass new anti-terrorism measures. The two leaders 
pledged continued collaboration on money laundering in the Asia-Pacific 
Group and the Egmont Group, and expressed determination to expand 
counterterrorism cooperation further through new programs such as the 
Terrorist Interdiction Program. President Bush welcomed Prime Minister 
Thaksin's commitment to sign all counterterrorism conventions as soon as 
possible in accordance with the constitutional process in Thailand and 
praised the Prime Minister's leadership in signing and implementing 
UNSCR 1373. President Bush further welcomed the Prime Minister's offer 
to participate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, noting Thailand's 
successful leadership of peacekeeping operations in East Timor. To 
further enhance Thailand's peacekeeping capabilities, President Bush 
announced that Thailand would continue to be a priority country for 
receipt of assistance and training through the Enhanced International 
Peacekeeping Capability Program.
    President Bush expressed strong appreciation for Prime Minister 
Thaksin's outstanding leadership in combating narcotics and promoting 
quadrilateral counternarcotics cooperation among neighboring countries. 
The two leaders discussed cooperative efforts to fight drug abuse and 
trafficking, noting that Thailand hosts one of the largest and most 
successful U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) operations in the 
world. After nearly four decades of close cooperation, the U.S.-Thai 
partnership on counternarcotics continues to expand and mature, as 
characterized by the successful

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DEA-sponsored Sensitive Investigative Unit program, and by ongoing 
training and relationships between the U.S. Pacific Command and the Thai 
counternarcotics units. The primary mission of U.S. and Thai 
counternarcotics assets is to stop the transnational flow of heroin and 
methamphetamine, which Prime Minister Thaksin has established as his 
number one national security priority.
    The two leaders highlighted the major contribution that the U.S.-
Thai International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok has made to 
enhancing the effectiveness of regional cooperation against drug 
trafficking and transnational crime. Noting that over 2,000 criminal 
justice professionals from Asia have been trained at ILEA since its 
joint establishment in 1998, the two leaders were pleased to announce 
that they have identified a permanent site for the ILEA training 
facility in Bangkok and will be cooperating closely to develop the site 
and further expand ILEA's activities.
    Underscoring their strong mutual commitment to open markets as the 
basis for expanding economic relations, the leaders endorsed the 
Framework for Economic Cooperation, signed by Secretary of State Powell 
and Foreign Minister Surakiart. The Framework is an expression of 
resolve to intensify the rich economic relationship between the United 
States and Thailand and addresses opportunities for future cooperation 
in trade and investment, intellectual property protection, 
transportation, education, telecommunications and the environment. 
Moreover, the Framework also highlights Thailand's commitment to customs 
reform and broad liberalization of civil aviation, progress that would 
pave the way for Thailand's further emergence as a regional aviation 
center and cargo hub. Prime Minister Thaksin emphasized Thailand's 
openness to foreign direct investment and continued commitment to 
liberalization and reform. The two leaders acknowledged the continuing 
vitality of the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations as a catalyst for 
increased bilateral trade and investment. In the spirit of the long 
history of warm relations between their nations, the two leaders 
resolved to work closely to expand trade bilaterally, regionally, and 
globally, particularly in the context of the Doha Development Agenda.
    President Bush recognized Prime Minister Thaksin's role in promoting 
closer economic cooperation, both ASEAN-wide and among Thailand's 
immediate neighbors, and praised Thailand's commitment to the ASEAN Free 
Trade Area.
    To deepen U.S. ties to both the public and private sectors in 
Thailand, and in recognition of Bangkok's significance as a regional 
hub, President Bush announced that the U.S. Trade and Development Agency 
(TDA) will open a regional office in Thailand in January 2002. This 
office will work to support the development and financing of priority 
infrastructure projects in Thailand and throughout the region. The 
President and the Prime Minister reaffirmed a commitment to continue to 
address a range of economic development issues through the work of the 
Kenan Institute Asia, a public-private partnership supported by both 
governments. Kenan will continue to support programs to strengthen 
Thailand's economic competitiveness, including its Business Advisory 
Center for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Both leaders also 
committed to continue addressing critical needs in education, including 
through development of a community college system and expansion of 
successful educational and cultural exchange programs, including the 
Fulbright and Peace Corps programs.
    Both leaders affirmed their shared commitment to protect the 
environment and agreed that the two countries would soon sign an 
agreement to establish a Tropical Forest Conservation Fund, which would 
enable cooperation under the U.S. Tropical Forest Conservation Act 
(TFCA) of 1998. TFCA provides for the cancellation of a portion of 
concessional debt owed to the United States in exchange for a commitment 
to make local currency payments to support domestic forest conservation 
activities. To further enhance cooperative efforts on the environment, 
the two leaders agreed that the United States and Thailand would co-
host, and the Trade and Development Agency (TDA) would fund, a 
conference to promote better water management policies, reduce water

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pollution, and increase water supply in Thailand and throughout the 
region. TDA looks forward to working with the Thai Government to fund 
additional environmentally-sound projects in Thailand.
    President Bush and Prime Minister Thaksin celebrated the substantial 
achievements of more than 50 years of institutional collaboration 
involving the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the U.S.-Thai Armed 
Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, and the Ministry of 
Public Health on a wide variety of tropical and infectious diseases, 
including HIV/AIDS. Citing Thailand as a model for other countries, 
President Bush congratulated Prime Minister Thaksin for the success of 
Thailand's programs in dramatically reducing the levels of HIV/AIDS 
infection. The leaders praised the unique bilateral collaboration to 
develop vaccines for prevention of HIV/AIDS and welcomed the plan to 
hold the world's largest HIV vaccine efficacy trial in 2002. President 
Bush and Prime Minister Thaksin welcome Thailand's inclusion in the 
Leadership and Investment in Fighting an Epidemic (LIFE) initiative, 
which is being implemented through the CDC's Global AIDS program and 
which will complement the research CDC and the Thai Ministry of Public 
Health have been pursuing jointly since 1990.
    To reinforce the mature partnership between their two countries, 
President Bush and Prime Minister Thaksin pledged to continue regular 
and close consultations and strengthen cooperation for the mutual 
benefit of both countries and peoples.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.