US President Barack Obama told Thailand’s new ambassador that Washington considers Thailand as a partner and ally, despite differences over last year’s coup and the current military government.
Mr Obama personally replied to a letter handed to the US by Ambassador Pisan Manawapat immediately after he presented his credentials to the US president on Friday.
The ambassador outlined six key areas where Thai-US ties can be enhanced and highlighted Thailand's goal of pursuing sustainable and functional democracy - a goal that deserves understanding and support from international friends, especially the US.
Mr Obama said that Thailand and the US have shared a long and enduring friendship with a wide range of cooperation on issues with regional and global benefit, including assisting refugees and displaced persons, countering illegal narcotics and wildlife trafficking, finding cures to the world's deadliest diseases, protecting the environment, preventing nuclear proliferation, pushing the boundaries of scientific research, and fighting transnational crime.
US President Barack Obama (second left) poses with Thai ambassador to the US Pisan Manawapat (second right) at the White House.
"Our dynamic security alliance has matured, broadened, and deepened over time, supporting our efforts to support regional peace and prosperity. We anticipate continuing to pursue, together, solutions to new and emerging challenges in the years to come," the president's letter read.
"We also look forward to the restoration of democracy in Thailand, which will enable our cooperation and partnership to reach its fullest potential," it continued.
Mr Obama said Thailand is a founding member and an exceptionally important voice in all of the region's multilateral institutions, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the East Asia Summit, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and the Lower Mekong Initiative.
"In the Asia-Pacific region, we will continue to look to Thailand as a partner and ally," he said.
The president added that the US will continue to work with Thailand and through the region's institutions to further mutual goals of stimulating trade and economic growth and promoting security for all the people of the region and the world.
The US is Thailand's third-largest trading partner, and American companies are major investors in Thailand. As he witnessed himself in visiting Thailand in 2012, people-to-people ties of the two countries are also strong, including educational links that allow thousands of Thai and American students to study in each other's country, Mr Obama wrote.