US President Bush, First Lady to visit Thailand

BANGKOK, July 29 (TNA) - President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush will visit Thailand as guests of the Thai government on August 6 to 7.

Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued onTuesday that on August 6, President Bush is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej at Government House.

Prime Minister Samak will host a dinner in honour of President Bush.

On August 7, President Bush is scheduled to deliver a major policy speech on Asia, before completing his term in January 2009, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

Afterward, President Bush will visit the Mercy Center, a non-profitorganization working for children in Klong Toey, established in 1974 by Father Joseph Maier, an American Catholic priest.

President Bush is the 43rd President of the United States. He was inaugurated as President in 2001, and re-elected for a second term in2004.

President Bush made a state visit to Thailand Oct 18-19, 2003 before attending the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) EconomicLeaders' Meeting in Bangkok Oct 20-21, 2003.

This visit to Thailand is a part of President Bush's Asian visit before completing his term and to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the Thai-US relations.

After his Thailand visit, President Bush will travel to China to attend the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games.