On 12 March 2026, H.E. Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, Ambassador of Thailand to the U.S., delivered remarks at the “Dinner with an Ambassador,” an event held as part of the 2026 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), organized by the Hearst Foundations in collaboration with the U.S. Senate, at The Mayflower Hotel  in Washington, D.C. The dinner brought together 104 outstanding high school junior and senior delegates, two from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity, along with 17 senior Pentagon military officers serving as mentors, executives from the Hearst Foundations, and representatives from the Royal Thai Embassy.

In his remarks, the Ambassador underscored the importance of finding common ground, strengthening regional cooperation, and fostering engagement in an increasingly interconnected world. He emphasized the value of embracing and learning from different cultures, highlighting cross-cultural understanding as an essential foundation for effective international cooperation. The Ambassador also stressed the critical role of diplomacy as the first line of defense in navigating today’s complex global challenges, citing issues such as the growing threat of online scams and transnational cybercrime, which require coordinated international collaboration and shared efforts to address effectively. He further shared insights into his path to diplomatic service, reflecting on his university years, and drawing on his previous experience as Ambassador of Thailand in various missions, encouraged students, many of whom are active in Model United Nations, to pursue international engagement and public service. He also congratulated the delegates for their achievements and invited them to join in celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. In closing, he encouraged the students to always reach for the stars while keeping their feet firmly on the ground.