Thailand handed over the presidency of the United States in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum on Saturday. During a ceremony at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha presented Vice President Kamala Harris with a wicker bamboo basket (chalom), the symbol of the country that hosted APEC.

Chalom is a drop-shaped wicker bamboo basket decorated with garlands in the colors of APEC 2022 (blue, red green). These colors symbolize the concepts of cooperation promoted by Thailand within the forum: Open - trade and investment facilitation, Connect - restoration of all ties, Balance - promotion of sustainable and inclusive growth.

APEC consists of 19 countries and two territories. They include 12 founding members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, USA, Thailand, the Philippines and South Korea. Other members are China (joined in 1991), Mexico and Papua New Guinea (1993), Chile (1994), Russia, Vietnam and Peru (1998). In 1991, two Chinese territories, Hong Kong and Taiwan, joined APEC.