BANGKOK(Reuters) 1. THAI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER, DON PRAMUDWINAI, STANDING IN FRONT OF FLAGS AS U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, ANTONY BLINKEN, ARRIVES IN VEHICLE 2. BLINKEN STEPPING OUT OF VEHICLE AND GREETING DON BANGKOK, THAILAND (JULY 10, 2022) (AGENCY POOL – Access all) 3. BLINKEN TAKING SEAT IN MEETING ROOM 4. BILATERAL MEETING BETWEEN THAI AND U.S. DELEGATES COMMENCING 5. DON SPEAKING / BLINKEN AND DELEGATES OBSERVING MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR DEATH OF FORMER JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SHINZO ABE 6. U.S. FLAG ON TABLE 7. BLINKEN LOOKING ON 8. DON SPEAKING 9. MEETING IN PROGRESS 10. BLINKEN SPEAKING 11. THAI AND U.S. FLAGS 12. DON AND BLINKEN ARRIVING AT PODIUM FOR JOINT STATEMENT 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) THAI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER, DON PRAMUDWINAI, SAYING: “Apart from the strategic alliance partnership communique, the second signing was on the MOU on promoting supply chain resilience. Again, this ensures a strong, resilient and diverse supply chain cooperation, particularly in clinical industry and technological innovation.” 14. JOINT STATEMENT IN PROGRESS 15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, ANTONY BLINKEN, SAYING: “Our countries share the same goal – free, open, interconnected, prosperous, resilient and secure Indo-Pacific. In recent years, we’ve worked together even more closely toward that vision. Our economic ties are incredibly strong and even now emerging from COVID, they will grow stronger. We’re grateful for Thailand’s partnership in launching with us the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework — that’s going to help create a stronger, fairer, more resilient economy that will help families, it will help workers, it will help businesses across the region.” 16. WHITE FLASH 17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, ANTONY BLINKEN, SAYING: “With this new agreement, we’re expanding their vision, we’re broadening our cooperation. We are taking a partnership between us fully into the 21st century.” 18. BLINKEN AND DON SHAKING HANDS / DON OFFERING FLOWERS TO BLINKEN AND MEDIA MEMBER BANGKOK, THAILAND (JULY 10, 2022) (REUTERS – Access all) 19. EXTERIOR OF THAI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 20. THAI AND U.S. FLAGS STORY: The United States and Thailand signed agreements on Sunday (July 10) to deepen the countries’ already strong ties as Washington steps up its efforts to counter China’s expanding influence in Asia. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Thai foreign minister Don Pramudwinai pledged to advance partnerships in climate change, law enforcement and security cooperation. “We are taking a partnership between us fully into the 21st century,” he said, adding that Thailand is an important ally in achieving a resilient and secure Indo-Pacific. Blinken will also meet with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. China’s foreign minister Wang Yi has been engaged in intense diplomacy across Asia in recent weeks and had just met Prayuth on Tuesday
Blinken in Thailand to shore up regional support, counter China push
