The visit at the invitation of the Thai government was aimed at strengthening close cooperation between Thailand and the UN.
Mr Ban arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday and held bilateral talks with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House.
During the talks, he said that the flood crisis in Thailand was an unexpected incident but that Thailand should take the crisis as lesson to help prevent repetition of the disaster.
The secretary-general added that one of the five principles of the United Nations was 'Prevention’.
He also praised Thailand as a good member state of the UN and said that both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation as partners.
Ms Yingluck congratulated Mr Ban on his second term as secretary-general. She pledged that the Thai government would further strengthen bilateral cooperation and support the work of the United Nations in Thailand.
After the bilateral talks, they held a joint news conference in which Mr Ban said that under the leadership of Ms Yingluck, Thailand would overcome the flood crisis as the Thai people have given good cooperation, international organisations have extended assistance, and the United Nations is ready to support the Thai government in tackling the flood.
Mr Ban urged the Thai government to help flood victims, both Thais and foreigners, equally, and that the country should continue monitoring water-borne diseases.
Ms Yingluck promised to distribute assistance received to the flood victims.
She said that the government has prepared measures to handle the flood crisis in both the short and longer term and stressed that Thailand is preparing a plan for future flood emergencies.
The premier said that the government has set up committees to address water management issues and would speed up its rehabilitation plan, particularly for the industrial sector, and for the well-being of the people.
The secretary-general’s visit to Thailand was aimed at enhancing the close cooperation between Thailand and the United Nations. At the same time, it provides Mr Ban an opportunity to learn first-hand how the flood crisis in Thailand is extensively affecting the lives and property of the Thai people.
Mr Ban was visiting some flood-affected areas in Bangkok before leaving Thailand on Thursday to attend the 4th ASEAN-UN Summit in Bali, Indonesia.
