175 years of bilateral relations

Thailand and the US celebrate 175 years of bilateral relations today, amidst signs of an improvement in ties after the coup-installed government’s exit from the scenes.

President George W Bush has lauded the long-time bonds of trust, appreciation and friendship. (Full text of his statement below ,)

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej meanwhile, will plant 175 trees at Chatuchak park in commemoration of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, signed on March 20, 1833.

The treaty ‘’solidified our commitment to working together for mutual benefit and marked the first agreement of its kind between the United States and an Asian nation.” Mr Bush said.

”Today, we share a commitment to democracy and to free and fair trade as well as a respect for human rights. Our tradition of cooperation and support remains strong,” he added, and thanked the King and the Thai people for the partnership.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama is in Washington for the occasion.

He has said he will try to convince Washington that Thailand should be upgraded from the Priority Watch List to Priority Foreign Country. But Thailand would try to avoid the sensitive issues of compulsory licensing and pending free trade negotiations, diplomatic sources said.

Mr Noppadon will also work out a schedule for Mr Samak’s official visit to the US either in late April or early May.

Chulalongkorn University’s political analyst Panitan Wattanayakorn said he did not expect smooth ties with the US.

Trade relations would be more complicated due to pharmaceutical industry pressure. The southern insurgency and Thailand’s stance on human rights in Burma would also be under the spotlight of the US Congress, he said.

Here is the text of a statement signed and sent on Thursday morning (Thailand time), as released by the White House:

Statement by the President on 175th Anniversary of Relations Between United States and Kingdom of Thailand

Laura and I join in celebrating the 175th anniversary of relations between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Thailand. The United States and Thailand have long been linked by bonds of trust, appreciation, and friendship. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce, signed on March 20, 1833, solidified our commitment to working together for mutual benefit and marked the first agreement of its kind between the United States and an Asian nation. Over the past 175 years, our two governments have worked together on issues such as economic development, healthcare, and security. Today, we share a commitment to democracy and to free and fair trade as well as a respect for human rights. Our tradition of cooperation and support remains strong.

I thank His Majesty the King and the citizens of Thailand for our enduring partnership. This anniversary is an opportunity to underscore our shared ideal of liberty and reinforce our bonds of friendship and understanding. We are proud to celebrate this historic day.