On 25 October 2014, Dr. Virabongsa Ramangkura, President of Thai-Lao Association for Friendship, presided over the Offering Ceremony of the Royal Kathin Robe, graciously bestowed by His Majesty the King through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the congregation of monks at Wat Sisumangalaram, Vang Vieng, Lao PDR.

Also present at the ceremony were Mr. Pisanu Chanvitan, Ambassador of Thailand to Lao PDR; Mr. Boonrong Pongstiensak, Consul-General of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Savannakhet; Mr. Russ Jalichandra, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information; officials from the Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane; representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; H.E. Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Bosengkham Vongdara, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism and President of Lao-Thai Association for Friendship; H.E. Mr. Ly Bounkham, Ambassador of the Lao PDR to Thailand; Mr. Khammeuang Phongthady, Governor of Vientiane Province; Professor Dr. Soukkongseng Saignaleuth, The President of the National University of Laos (NUOL) and member of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party; members of Thai and Lao press; the Thais, who travelled from Thailand as well as over 500 Vang Vieng local people.

The ceremony was held successfully. The Lao PDR welcomed the Royal Kathin Robe with honour and joy honor throughout the ceremony, from the arrival at the Vang Vieng Airport on 24 October until the end on 25 October 2014, whereby over 3000 Thai and Laos Buddhists attended. The benevolence of His Majesty the King as the upholder of religions, not only in Thailand but also abroad is well recognized by monks and participants of the Royal Kathin Robe Offering Ceremony from both countries.  The offering of the Royal Kathin Robe in Vang Viang, Lao PDR aims to strengthen cordial relations between the two countries, especially at the people-to-people level.  As Thailand’s close neighbor,  sharing  similar Buddhist culture, Lao PDR was one of the first three countries chosen for the Royal Kathin Robes Offering Ceremony abroad in 1995 and has become an annual event.  The donation by His Majesty the King and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Thai and Lao Buddhists is approximately 556,671 Baht.

Besides, there were other CSR activities including the assembling at a gable of monks’ abode.  Moreover, the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship invited Lao and Thai singers including Tai Orathai to perform in front of the public of around 3,000 participants.