Moreover, we have numerous exchange programs, and our military education and training program for Thai officers is among the largest in the world. Such training and exchanges also build the personal ties so important to our overall relationship. We believe that security cooperation will continue to be an important part of US-Thai relations into the next century. While the nature of threats may have changed, Thailand is still in a potentially dangerous neighborhood and the US still has an essential role to play in working with countries in this region to ensure peace and stability. Promoting peace and stability is of course not just a function of the military.
Diplomatic efforts are at least as in important, especially in the last decade.
And Thailand is also hosting a regional conference on migration. There are many more examples. In my few weeks here I have been particularly impressed by Thai leadership, and U.S.-Thai cooperation in addressing some of the very troubling transnational issues that I alluded to earlier. But they are looming larger in relations among countries, as the revolution in communications and transportation takes them to all corners of the globe. Our cooperation with Thailand in battling the production, distribution, and abuse of illicit drugs stands as a model for all nations.