01 October 2019 – Philippine Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon paid a courtesy call on H.E. Chuan Leekpai, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Thailand. She was accompanied by Ms. Mary Anne A. Padua, Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Juan Carlos C. Borromeo, Third Secretary and Vice Consul, and Attaché Ms. Rosette G. Razon.
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 also 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 recalled 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 commended the high quality of education in the Philippines, and looked forward for 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 Leekpai 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
