On 22 October 2014, H.E. Mr. Sakthip Krairiksh, Member of the National Legislative Assembly, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and former Ambassador of Thailand to several countries, presided over the Royal Kathin Robe Offering Ceremony, graciously bestowed by His Majesty the King through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the congregation of monks at Man Zai Long Temple, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, the People’s Republic of China.

Also present at the ceremony were Mr. Suchart Liengsaengthong, Consul-General of Thailand in Kunming; Mr. Li Yonghe, Vice Governor of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture; Mr. Yan Ying, Vice Secretary General of the People’s Government of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture;  Mr. Yan Meng, Deputy Director-General of Xishuangbanna Religious Bureau; Mr. Chen Jing Qiang, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture; and around 4,000 Chinese and Dai Buddhists. In addition, on the auspicious occasion of the 87th Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 5 December 2014, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kunming has invited eighty-seven (87) monks to attend this year’s ceremony as well.

Dai people, all dressed in their traditional costume, participated in the auspicious ceremony, not only with the aim to make merit but also to preserve their long tradition and culture.  Dai people in Xishuangbanna are close to Thai people, especially in the northern part of Thailand, both geographically and traditionally and therefore share similar characteristics.  Many Dai people used to live in Thailand, which further binds the ties between our peoples. The benevolence of His Majesty the King in bestowing the Royal Kathin Robe to the temple was, therefore, enthusiastically welcomed.  The donation by His Majesty the King, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Consulate-General in Kunming as well as the Thai, Chinese and Dai Buddhists totaled 90,902 RMB (approximately 454,511 THB).

The offering of the Royal Kathin Robe is part of Thailand’s cultural diplomacy which aims to strengthen bilateral relations, especially people-to-people contacts, between Thailand and her friends in the People’s Republic of China, including the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province.  In this regard, Buddhist temples in Yunnan Province have continually received the Royal Kathin Robes for the past 13 years.