On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I wish the people of the Kingdom of Thailand well as you mark Thailand’s New Year on April 13.

Our two countries have enjoyed a profound friendship for over 200 years. Our friendship and decades-long health partnership has given us the resilience to address this global health crisis caused by COVID-19. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the partnership between the Royal Thai Government and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – a partnership that has brought about innovative advances in health research and collaboration that has prepared both our nations to combat the current pandemic – as well as over sixty years of cooperation between our Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences and the Royal Thai Army. We are pleased to provide assistance to Thailand as it works to contain the spread of COVID-19. This collaboration is but one piece of our broad partnership and alliance that includes cooperation on security, law enforcement, business and trade, education, and many other areas.

Although this pandemic has muted this year’s celebration of Songkran in Thailand, we hope our partnership will usher new blessings in the New Year. As we begin our third century of friendship, we reaffirm our commitment to the U.S.-Thai Alliance as we work together to bring about shared prosperity and well-being to our people and the Indo-Pacific region.

We wish the people of the Kingdom of Thailand an auspicious New Year.