The below is attributable to Spokesperson Rebecca Chalif:
On May 12, Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman completed her trip to Thailand to advance the United States’ partnership with our longstanding treaty ally on the shared priorities of COVID-19, climate action, countering trafficking in persons, and providing humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable in the region. The visit also underscored USAID’s commitment to working with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region to promote a region that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient.
After arriving in Bangkok, the Deputy Administrator met with USAID partners to discuss efforts to promote sustainable development of the Mekong basin, including addressing environmental challenges that affect natural resource management, local communities, and their livelihoods across the Lower Mekong region.
Deputy Administrator Coleman then met with local partners who are combating trafficking in persons in Southeast Asia, as well as supporting trafficking survivors through government policy and programs, addressing the impact of migration and climate change on people vulnerable to trafficking, and promoting partnerships with all sectors of society to build local capacity to address the human rights abuse.
The Deputy Administrator also met with representatives from Thailand’s International Cooperation Agency (TICA) to advance U.S.-Thai development cooperation in the Lower Mekong, particularly on shared priorities of improving malaria and HIV/AIDS responses and addressing regional air pollution. They discussed ways to leverage the partnership so both can use resources to meet neighboring countries’ needs.