WORLD> Asia-Pacific
Bush arrives in Bangkok on working visit
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-06 23:40

BANGKOK - George W. Bush, President of the United States of America arrived in Bangkok Wednesday evening to pay a two-day working visit to Thailand before heading to Beijing for the August 8 Olympics opening.


US President George W. Bush shakes hands with Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej after a joint statement at the Government House in Bangkok August 6, 2008. [Agencies] 

The Air Force One boarding the US president, his wife Laura Bush and daughter Barbara, landed at the Royal Thai Air Force base adjacent to the Don Mueang airport at 06:20 pm local time (1120 GMT).

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The Bush family was briefly welcomed by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Bunditkul at the military airport before the US President headed to the Government House in the city center, where he will join a dinner meeting with Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

The two-day visit in Thailand is part of Bush's last Asian tour as US president before his term ends in January, 2009, and also an occasion to mark the 175th anniversary of Thai-US diplomatic relations.

On Thursday morning the US president will deliver a major speech on the US policy in Asia, which is expected to highlight the "achievements" and "challenges" in enhancing the US ties with and interests in the region during his eight-year tenure at Bangkok's Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

Bush is also expected to deliver a statement on the US stance regarding the political situation in Thailand's neighbor -- Myanmar, Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said earlier.

Bush has just concluded his two-day visit to South Korea before coming to Thailand. To wrap up his three-nation Asia tour, he will fly to Beijing, China on Thursday to attend the Olympics 2008 opening ceremony on Friday.