Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has assured the international community of Thailand’s healthy economy and the Government’s determination to resolve the current political situation.

The Foreign Minister during his visit to New York on April 1, had a roundtable discussion with business people, academics, and civil society representatives. He exchanged views with them on various issues, including the economic and political situation in Thailand.

He told them that the Thai economy has been well on the path of recovery since last year, with low unemployment, rising consumption, and increasing foreign direct investment. This reflects the confidence that the international community has in Thailand’s strong economic fundamentals. For 2010, he noted, the Thai economy is projected to grow by about 4.5 percent.

The Foreign Minister also underscored the Government’s efforts to promote human security for Thai people through the implementation of welfare-oriented policies and measures, such as the 15-year free education program, the monthly allowance for the elderly, the expansion of the universal health care coverage scheme to cover all groups of people, and the income guarantee scheme for farmers.

He explained further the Government’s plan under the second stimulus package to invest in infrastructure development and the improvement of public health and education systems, which would enhance Thailand’s competitiveness. He also emphasized the Government’s foreign business-friendly policies and its determination to address corruption while enhancing transparency and good governance.

On the same day, the Foreign Minister gave an interview to members of the international media from Newsweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Bloomberg, and CNN. Concerning the pressing political issues, he affirmed that the Thai government intends to resolve problems through negotiations and within the parliamentary framework, instead of through street protests, and to take into account the views from all sides in society – an approach that the general Thai public supports.

Asked about the situation in Myanmar in light of the upcoming general elections by the end of this year, Foreign Minister Kasit reiterated ASEAN’s position regarding an inclusive, free, and fair election in Myanmar. He pointed out that the Mekong River Commission Summit in Cha-am and Hua Hin, Thailand, on 2-5 April 2010, and the 16th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Viet Nam, on April 8-9, would provide opportunities for him and other ASEAN foreign ministers to discuss this matter further with their Myanmar counterpart.

During his visit to New York, Foreign Minister Kasit, at the International Donors’ Conference toward a New Future for Haiti, also pledged Thailand’s additional financial contribution of 2.5 million US dollars and other kinds of assistance to Haiti. He said that it is Thailand’s intention to engage actively in international efforts on humanitarian assistance for Haiti and beyond.