Obama visit: Business too

President Obama?s public appearances made for some great photographs yesterday, but behind closed doors, serious business was also discussed.

Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

US President Barack Obama and Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra moments before their joint press conference began at Government House last night. CHANAT KATANYU

Click button to listen to TPP and rightclick to download

Obama arrives on whirlwind tour

US, Thailand to start talks on TPP trade accord

Parista Yuthamanop 
Thanida Tansubhapol
 
President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reaffirmed yesterday that Thailand and the United States will cooperate in talks on the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and security issues.

The pledge was made at a joint press conference held last night only hours after President Obama arrived in Bangkok in the first leg of his Southeast Asian tour. The trip, which also includes stops in Myanmar and Cambodia, is aimed at reinforcing the US presence in the region.

Addressing the joint press conference with Ms Yingluck, Mr Obama said the choice of Bangkok as his first foreign visit after re-election reflects Southeast Asia's rising economic prospects and Thailand's potential to play a leading role in the Asia-Pacific region.

"During the past decade, we understandably have been a country which has been focused on terrorism and the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a consequence, we have not had the same kind of presence in the region that is growing and developing faster than any place in the world," Mr Obama said.

While expressing his appreciation for the government's firm commitment to democracy, rule of law and governance, Mr Obama said security and trade and investment were his two key priority issues in bilateral discussions with Thai leaders Sunday.

He said cooperation in trade and investment would centre on TPP negotiations.

Washington's push for the TPP trade agreement has met with strong criticism. The pact's power to set rules and settle business disputes, influence over the pharmaceutical industry and intellectual property, its capacity to open the financial sector, and the lack of transparency of negotiations has been cited by opponents. Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam have already begun TPP negotiations with the US.

According to a joint press statement, President Obama welcomes Thailand's interest in the TPP negotiations, which will be subject to the necessary domestic legal procedures.

Article 190 of the constitution requires the government to hold public hearings before submitting any international agreement for parliamentary approval.

Mr Obama said future security cooperation will centre on helping Thai forces in maritime operations against pirates and preparing for disaster relief missions.

Ms Yingluck said the government has agreed to begin negotiations with the US on the TPP agreement, but it would engage all stakeholders and submit it for parliamentary approval as required by the constitution.

joint – done together; belonging to or shared between two or more people ที่ร่วมกัน, ความร่วมมือกัน
press conference – an official meeting where someone makes a formal statement about a particular issue or event to journalists and answers their questions about it การแถลงข่าว
whirlwind – a situation or series of events where a lot of things happen very quickly; a very strong wind that moves very fast in a spinning movement and causes a lot of damage สิ่งที่เกิดขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว, ลมหมุน
Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) – a free-trade agreement among certain Asia-Pacific countries ความตกลงหุ้นส่วนยุทธศาสตร์ทางเศรษฐกิจภาคพื้นแปซิฟิก
trade –  the buying and selling of goods and services การค้าขาย
accord – a formal agreement between countries or groups การตกลงร่วมกัน
reaffirm – to give your support to a person, plan, idea, etc. for a second time; to strengthen ยืนยันใหม่
cooperate – to work with other people to achieve a result that is good for everyone involved ร่วมมือกัน
controversial – causing disagreement or disapproval ความไม่ลงรอยกัน
security – protection; safety from attack, harm, or damage ความมั่นคง, ระบบรักษาความปลอดภั, ความปลอดภัย
pledge – a serious promise คำมั่้นสัญญา
reinforce – to make stronger เสริมให้แข็งแรงขึ้น
presence – the fact of being in a particular place, thing or situation การเข้าร่วม, การมีอยู่
address – to speak publicly to a group of people  กล่าวปราศรัย
reflect – to show สะท้อน แสดงถึง
prospects – the possibility that things will happen, especially something good ความเป็นไปได้
potential – possible ความเป็นไปได้, ที่อาจเกิดขึ้นได้
play a role – to carry out a particular function or duty มีบทบาท
decade – a period of ten years  ทศวรรษ
terrorism – the use of violence to achieve political aims การใช้ความรุนแรงเพื่อข้อเรียกร้องทางการเมือง
consequence – a result of something that has happened ผลที่ตามมา
appreciation – the feeling of being grateful for something  ความชื่นชอบ, ความชื่นชม
firm – definite and not likely to change แน่นอน, แน่วแน่
commitment – willing to give your time and energy to something that you believe in; a promise or firm decision to do something การให้คำมั่นสัญญา, การให้คำมั่น, การมอบความไว้วางใจ
governance – the activity of governing a country or controlling a company or an organisation; the way in which a country is governed or a company or institution is controlled วิธีการปกครอง  
investment – the act of investing money in something การลงทุน
key – most important  ที่สำคัญ
priority – something important that needs to be done first or needs more attention than anything else สิ่งที่สำคัญที่สุดเป็นอันดับแรก
issue – a subject that people discuss or argue about ประเด็น
bilateral – involving two groups or countries สองข้าง, เกี่ยวกับกลุ่มทางการเมืองสองกลุ่ม
cooperation – a situation in which people or organisations work together to achieve a result that will benefit all of them  การร่วมมือกัน
negotiations – formal discussion in which people or groups try to reach an agreement การเจรจาต่อรอง
criticism – comments that show that you think something is wrong or bad การวิจารณ์
pact – an agreement between two or more people or organizations in which they promise to do something; accord ข้อสัญญา, ข้อตกลง
settle – to decide or arrange something ตัดสินใจ
dispute – a serious disagreement  ข้อโต้แย้ง
influence – to affect or change how someone or something develops, behaves or thinks มีอิทธิพลต่อ, ชักจูง อำนาจบังคับ
pharmaceutical – connected with the production of medicines เกี่ยวกับเภสัชกรรม, เกี่ยวกับยา
intellectual property – something that someone has created or invented and that no one else is legally allowed to make, copy, or sell ทรัพย์สินทางปัญญา
capacity – the ability to do a particular thing ความสามารถ,สมรรถภาพ
financial sector – the part of the economy that deals the transfer of money, e.g., between savers (and investors) and borrowers ภาคการเงิน
lack of – when there is not enough of something  ขาด
transparency – an honest way of doing things that allows other people to know exactly what you are doing ความโปร่งใส
cite – to mention something as an example กล่าวถึง
opponent – someone who disagrees with you or who is competing against you  ผู้ไม่เห็นด้วยกับ,  ฝ่ายตรงข้าม
subject to – depending on; affected by ขึ้นอยู่กับ  มีผลมาจาก
domestic – inside the country being talked about ภายในประเทศ
legal – relating to the law เกี่ยวกับกฎหมาย
procedure – a way of doing something  ขั้นตอนการดำเนินการ
article – part of a legal document, agreement or law that deals with a particular point มาตรา
constitution – the set of laws and basic principles that a country in governed by รัฐธรรมนูญ
submit – to formally give something to someone so that can make a decision about it ยื่น (เอกสาร) เพื่อการพิจารณา
approval – official permission การอนุมัต
maritime – connected with human activity at sea; near the sea or coast ทางทะเล, เกี่ยวกับทะเล
operations – the activity or work done in an area of business or industry ปฎิบัติการ
pirate – someone who attacks ships while they are sailing to steal things from them or to hold them in return for money โจรสลัด
disaster – an unexpected event, such as a very bad accident, a flood or a fire, that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage ภัยพิบัติ ความหายนะ
relief – help; assistance การช่วยให้พ้นภัย
mission – an important piece of work that a person or a group of people has been given to do ภาระกิจ หน้าที่
engage – to cause to take part in a particular activity  ให้มีส่วนร่วมใน
stakeholder – someone who has an interest in the success of a plan, system, or organization, for example a worker in a company or the parent of a child at a school ผู้ถือผลประโยชน์ร่วม