QUESTION: I think this is the 2nd visit, official visit in Thailand this year.
But this is again where APEC also comes in, ensuring that our countries and economies are connected. For example , on the supply chains that will produce the things that you need pertaining to electric vehicles. That is more important than it’s actually been, and that’s a few of the work that we do in APEC.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. It’s wonderful to be here.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: So I believe people, including people in my own family who have had that one car before, I think initially may be a little bit skeptical about the electric vehicle, but now I have a cousin who’s actually to the list to buy one. He drove one – he loved it. And it’s incredibly interesting to see this happening. It’s literally – it’s changing our economies, but it’s also changing our capacity to deal effectively with climate change.
QUESTION: He was (inaudible) within the Google self-driving car in the past, which was quite new right now, right? And as the present Secretary of State, whenever you can pick one U. S. technologies that you would (inaudible) interesting the most for you right now, which would it be?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, first of all, Thailand has done a wonderful job both leading APEC this season and organizing all of us in the future together, including the leaders that are coming together over the following couple of days. So I hope we can just continue the momentum that Thailand has built leading APEC.
QUESTION: (Inaudible. )
ADMIN BLINKEN: Indeed.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Let’s see. Oh, indeed. Yes. Yes. Yeah.
QUESTION: Yeah, very fascinating story. And I do not know if you are aware that this is the first time that the recognized vehicle for leaders in APEC is an all-electric.
QUESTION: You have your own car.
QUESTION: And I think technology is also a large issue here.
QUESTION: Yeah. Another concern that I want to discuss with a person is APEC under Thailand, this year it will be transferred, the particular chairmanship, to the U. H.
QUESTION: The first time, people really – there is a good feedback with.
QUESTION: In person, yeah.
QUESTION: In person, yeah.
QUESTION: So that you have to try it out. (Laughter. )
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, I have to tell you that is one of my ambitions. Now, one of our Cabinet officials actually has as her official car an electric vehicle, our Secretary of Energy. We have some function to do. Now, part of the challenge is some of us traveling in secure vehicles, armored vehicles. I’m not sure if they yet make an electrical vehicle that’s armored too, but hopefully that’s something that can happen. But I was very jealous of the Admin of Energy because we were jointly some months ago and her car pulled in to choose her up and I stated, “Wait a minute, you have an electric vehicle. What about me? ”
ISSUE: Yeah, plus everything. Do you have any kind of plan to change your cars to electric?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yes, exactly.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yes.
This is the very first time we’ve had an opportunity given that COVID to actually meet —
SECRETARY BLINKEN: That is right.
QUESTION: So what will be your primary theme hosting the APEC next year, and why?
