Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel will travel to Bangkok, Vientiane and Tokyo December 13 – 21.

In Bangkok, Assistant Secretary Russel will lead the U.S. delegation to the 5^th US-Thai Strategic Dialogue on December 16, in addition to viewing an Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation project at Wat Suthat Thepwararam. The Strategic Dialogue, last held in Washington in 2012, covers the full range of the political, security, and economic cooperation with Thailand. Assistant Secretary Russel will also meet with Thai government officials, civil society, and political leaders on December 17.

In Laos, Assistant Secretary Russel will meet with Lao Government and party officials and speak at the Lao Institute of Foreign Affairs.

On December 21 in Tokyo, Assistant Secretary Russel will meet with current and former Japanese Government officials.

Assistant Secretary Russel will return to Washington, DC on December 21.