U.S. pledges to help restore airport in flood-hit Thailand

U.S. pledges to help restore airport in flood-hit Thailand

The United States will focus on helping Thailand recover its Donmueang Airport so that the country could revive its flood-stricken economy, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said here Wednesday.

"One of our major areas of focus will be to help the Thai government reopen the Donmueang Airport, Thailand's second largest airport to resume commerce and tourism and also help reconnect people with their families," Clinton told a joint press conference with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Government House.

Donmueang Airport which operates domestic and military flights in northern Bangkok was swamped late October.

In addition to 1.1 million U.S. dollars the U.S. gave to Thai government in October, it announced to provide more than 10 million U.S. dollars in assistance and civic aid, the U.S. embassy said in a statement.

The USS Lassen is currently in Thailand with crew and helicopter to assist in the relief and recovery efforts.

The U.S. is also consulting with the Thai government on how it can best assist in restoring important cultural sites ravaged by the inundation in Ayutthaya, the ancient capital and World Heritage.

"And we are identifying sites that hold historical significances to the Thai people to help protect and restore monuments of Thailand's proud and ancient culture,"Clinton said.

To prevent the country from being battered by similar disaster again in the future, the U.S. will help Thailand improve its capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters like these floods.

Clinton also touched upon political violence that Thailand had faced over the past years by encouraging the country to achieve political reconciliation.

"We encourage the government to move forward with their political reconciliation process which is critical to Thailand's long-term stability and security," she said.

She is scheduled to visit flood victims in a makeshift camp in Bangkok Thursday morning before flying to Bali, Indonesia to attend East Asia summit along with President Barack Obama.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn   2011-11-17 00:04:09