PH Ambassador to Thailand Calls On National Assembly President
Ambassador to Thailand Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon (third from left) and House Speaker Chuan Leekpai (third from right) with the officials of the Philippine Embassy and the Office of the House Speaker. (Bangkok PE photo)
BANGKOK 14 October 2019 – Ambassador to Thailand Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon paid a courtesy call to the President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives Chuan Leekpai of the Kingdom of Thailand on 01 October 2019 at the Thai Parliament House.
During the courtesy call, Ambassador Bernardo-Aragon congratulated Thailand, as Chair of ASEAN, on the successful conclusion of the 40th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in August 2019. She highlighted the 70 years of good diplomatic relations of the Philippines and Thailand and took note of the establishment of the Thailand-Philippines Parliamentarians Friendship Group in July 1993.
At the outset, Speaker Chuan expressed admiration for Filipino singers and musicians. He recalled the close ties of the Philippines and Thailand, having met Filipino families and Thais married to Filipinos during his past visits to the Philippines as Prime Minister of Thailand. He also reminded that some Thais studied in the Philippines, emphasizing the importance of education as a means toward development and better opportunities for the people of the two countries. He then commended the high quality of education in the Philippines, and looked forward to more opportunities for Thai students to study in the Philippines.
The Ambassador and the Speaker both fondly noted the similarities in cultures and values of Thais and Filipinos. Both agreed on the need for continued cooperation between the two countries and working together for the benefit of the Thai and Filipino peoples, as well as those in the larger ASEAN region.
Speaker Chuan was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand in May 2019 and previously served as Prime Minister from 23 September 1992 to 20 July 1995 and from 09 November 1997 to 18 February 2001. END
House Speaker Chuan Leekpai presents Ambassador Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon with an inlaid bronze bowl, which has been traditionally made since the Ayutthaya period in the 1400s. (Bangkok PE photo)
Ambassador Bernardo-Aragon reciprocates, with framed stamps featuring the Philippine carabao and the Thai elephant, jointly issued by the Phil Post and Thai Post in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. (Bangkok PE photo)
Ambassador Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon signs the guest book at the Thai Parliament Office. (Bangkok PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.bangkokpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinThailand/.