Paetongtarn predicts tighter US-Thai cooperation after talks with ambassador
Newly elected Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra has expressed confidence that the United States will tighten cooperation with Thailand under the Pheu Thai-led government.
Paetongtarn said she hosted US ambassador Robert Godec at Pheu Thai headquarters on Monday for talks on cooperation in a wide range of issues.
Posting on Facebook, she said the US ambassador pledged enhanced multilevel cooperation to mark the 190th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries this year.
Those levels would include government, private sector, universities, and people-to-people cooperation, she added.
Paetongtarn said the Godec was also keen on supporting the student exchange programme by granting scholarships to Thai students to study in the US.
The envoy meanwhile expressed admiration for Pheu Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s recent efforts on trips abroad to promote investment in Thailand.
“The ambassador also advised on how to promote Thailand to US investors,” she said.
Thai soft power was another topic of discussion, with Paetongtarn putting out an invitation to Hollywood scriptwriters to visit Thailand to teach their local counterparts. She said the Thai government may also send local filmmakers to attend short courses in the US to learn more about the US movie industry.
Paetongtarn encouraged the US ambassador to partake in the cooling delights of Thailand’s “winter” high season and also the Songkran Water Festival in April next year.
Paetongtarn was elected unopposed as Pheu Thai leader on Friday.
