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• I am thrilled to be back in Chiang Mai and to have a chance to meet so many wonderful people who work with our Consulate to advance these interests.• Tonight we celebrate the birthday of the United States of America and the adoption of our Declaration of Independence 239 years ago.• We come together to celebrate the birth of a nation built on the principles that we are all equal, share fundamental rights, and deserve a government accountable to our citizens.• Our founders sought to “form a more perfect union” when they wrote our Constitution, both the oldest and shortest of its kind and the foundation of our nation’s strength.• But the truth is - we are not perfect. We are a work in progress. We make mistakes and missteps.• However, through the strength of diversity, respect for the rule of law, and our cherished liberties of expression and peaceful association, we strive to perfect our union and to defend individual rights and liberties.• Just last week our Supreme Court recognized that the Constitution guarantees marriage equality, reaffirming that all Americans should be treated equally, regardless of who they are or who they love. • Over four decades, our LGBT friends exercised their rights of free expression and peaceful association to, in the words of President Obama, “make our union a little more perfect.” I join them in celebrating their success.• Thailand, too, is a work in progress.• As President Obama’s nominee to be our next Ambassador, Glyn Davies, said: “We believe Thailand can find reconciliation, establish democracy, and fulfill its historic destiny as a great and free nation.”• We very much hope it succeeds: a prosperous, stable, and democratic Thailand is good for the region, world, and the enduring relationship between our two countries, established shortly after the birth of our young nation.• Almost 200 years later, that relationship remains strong thanks to our continued cooperation on issues that are important to both of our countries like fighting infectious diseases, protecting the environment, increasing trade and investment, and educational exchange.• Robust people-to-people linkages underpin our strong official relationship, including here in Chiang Mai.• More than 800,000 Americans visit Thailand annually and that number increases every year by almost 10%.• Over the last five years, more than 16,000 of our friends in northern Thailand have received visas here at the Consulate. These travelers join more than 70,000 Thais who visit the United States every year. • Every year many Thai join thousands of Americans in driving historic Route 66 across our country and visiting legendary places along the way.• Just as Route 66 connects the West Coast with America’s heartland, Mittraphap (Mee-thraa-pahp) Road connects Thailand’s heartland with Isaan. • Mittraphap is Thai for ‘friendship’ and the road was given that name because we, the United States and Thailand, built it together, as friends.
• Mittraphap Road remains a lasting symbol of the friendship between our two countries and it will be an important corridor for economic activity in ASEAN’s Economic Community.
• I am proud of all that we have accomplished together and I am honored to join you all tonight to celebrate.
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