The United States has congratulated Srettha Thavisin on his appointment as the new prime minister of Thailand, saying it wants to strengthen the bilateral relationship further.

“We look forward to working with the Prime Minister, to build on last year’s U.S.-Thailand Communiqué on Strategic Alliance and Partnership, and to strengthen further the enduring alliance between the United States and Thailand,” US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said in a press statement.

“We will collaborate closely with the new Thai government to continue advancing our shared values and a free and open, connected, peaceful and resilient Indo-Pacific region.”

The US-Thai partnership is one of the oldest friendships in the world as, this year, both celebrate 190 years of formal diplomatic relations.

“Together, as friends and allies, we have deepened mutual prosperity, improved security in the region, faced global public health challenges and forged strong people-to-people ties,” said Blinken.

US Ambassador to Thailand, Robert F Godec, also tweeted “the US looks forward to working with the new Prime Minister, the Thai government and the people, to continue building on our long-standing partnership.”