Virasakdi Futrakul, Thai ambassador to the US, said the statements reflect the long-standing relations between the two countries, which the King has played a vital role in promoting.

The concurrent resolution, jointly drafted by both houses of the US Congress, will emphasise that under the reign of His Majesty, Thailand has become a democratically governed constitutional monarchy in which Thais enjoy rights and free and fair elections.

Virasakdi said the resolution is likely to mention that His Majesty the King has enjoyed a special relationship with the US as he was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1927.

When the King visited the US in 1960, he addressed a joint session of the US Congress and said that visiting his birthplace was the reason for his US visit.

His Majesty said: "I have the natural human desire to see my birthplace. I expect some of you were also born in Boston, or, like my father, were educated at Harvard. I hasten to congratulate such fortunate people. I am sure they are with me in spirit. We share a sentiment of deep pride in the academic and cultural achievements of that wonderful city."

At that time, one of the local newspapers ran the headline "The King from Massachusetts."

The Bush and Congress statements are expected to be announced shortly, after the Memorial weekend in the US, said Virasakdi.

Virasakdi said some congressmen proposed the Thai Embassy erect a statue of the King to highlight the fact he was born in the US.

According to the Thai envoy, Jim Leach, a Republican congressman from Iowa who was instrumental in drafting the concurrent resolution, said there should be some kind of statue of the King at the embassy as a symbol of the special relationship between the two countries. He cited the example of the memorial of Winston Churchill at the British Embassy, which was erected partly to acknowledge that Churchill's mother Lady Randolph Churchill was American-born.

The ambassador said the Thai community in Boston would also hold an event in September to visit the places the King went when he was in the US. A square in Cambridge, Massachusetts is also named after the King.

Catherine Dalpino, director of the Asian Studies Centre at Georgetown University, said the King is one element in an increasing interest in Thailand among the younger generation in the US.

"The older generation associated the Thai image as a US ally in the Vietnam War. However, the younger generation is more interested in the cultural side. They have known Thailand through films, the tsunami, kick-boxing and the monarch," she said.

Earlier, the executive committee of the Washington-based US-Asean Business Council issued a resolution congratulating the Thai people and His Majesty the King on the great occasion of the anniversary.

Matthew Daley, president of the council, said: "We believe we have inspired the others to come up with the resolutions for this special event."

Jeerawat Na Thalang

The Nation

Washington DC