Phon Ging Mai Ngern Thong (Thai): a dance created on the auspicious occasion of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s accession to the throne, is to wish the King happiness and good physical health.

10 November, 2009 - “It goes without saying that our great kings have done a great deal for the development, happiness and well being of our respective countries and people. That is why you in Bhutan love and respect your great kings greatly, that is why we in Thailand love and respect our great king greatly, and that is why we have gathered here tonight,” said Thailand’s ambassador to Bhutan, Chalermpol Thanchitt.

The Thai ambassador and his wife, Sutida Thanchitt, played host to more than a hundred foreign and local dignitaries last night in Thimphu, on the occasion of the 82nd birth anniversary of the Thai King, His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej. The occasion is also celebrated in Thailand as its national day.

Three other occasions were also celebrated at the function: the 54th birth anniversary of His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the first anniversary of the coronation of His Majesty the fifth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, and the 20th anniversary of Bhutan-Thailand diplomatic relations.

Attendees of the celebrations lit candles in honour of Their Majesties the Kings, and members of the royal families for their “continued good health, happiness, and long lives.”

Attendees then dined on a wide range of Thai food, particularly fruits brought all the way from Thailand, before being entertained by both Thai and Bhutanese cultural performances.

“I must say that I’m very proud to have been the ambassador to Bhutan,” said Thanchitt, who will be reposted in January, “and to have in my own small way promoted relations between the two countries.”

The ambassador told Kuensel that he would cherish his memories of Bhutan for the rest of his life, especially of his audience with the fifth Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck. “It was a great honour,” he said. The Thai ambassador added that relations between Bhutan and Thailand would be strengthened in “all possible aspects, not just official, but from people to people, and the private sector.”

Similarly, Thai honorary consul to Bhutan, Ugyen Tsechup, said, “To take relations between our two countries forward, we need to increase people to people relations, and the Thai consul is doing much to increase this interaction between the peoples, in the private sector, at the grassroots level.” The honorary consul added that, by building bonds at the grassroots level, the two countries would be compelled to maintain good relations.

The celebrations were organised by the Thai consulate in Bhutan and the royal Thai embassy in Bangladesh. Besides Thai government officials, members of the tourism authority of Thailand and the bank for agriculture and agricultural cooperatives were also part of the Thai delegation.

As part of the ambassador’s visit to Bhutan, the Thai pavilion in Thimphu will be re-launched today as the Thai-Bhutan friendship park. Fruits from Thailand will be offered to the public at the opening.