Thai-Chinese Relations Strengthened Through Royal Kathina Robes Ceremony in Xishuangbanna

Xishuangbanna: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited monks from Wat Pa Chet in Sipsongpanna to present royal Kathina robes in a ceremony aimed at commemorating 50 years of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations and fostering friendship between the two countries. According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Teerakul Niyom, Chairman of the Advisory Board to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, presided over the invitation event. The royal Kathina robes, bestowed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, were presented to the Sangha at Wat Pa Chet in the Xishuangbanna Autonomous Region, located in Jinghong City, Yunnan Province, China. The ecclesiastical ceremony was led by Phra Somdej Luang Chom Muang, the Abbot of Wat Pa Chet, and attended by 17 monks from across Xishuangbanna. The ceremony saw participation from several notable representatives, including Ms. Pawiwan Norapallop, Consul-General in Kunming, and Mr. Panidol Patchimsawat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, Minist ry of Foreign Affairs. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Thailand team in China and Kunming, as well as Thai Buddhists, Thai citizens, and local residents, were also present. The royal Kathina robe offering ceremony resulted in a total of 540,000 baht in donations, which included funds for royal temple maintenance from His Majesty the King and charitable contributions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additional donations amounted to over 8,100 baht and 16,000 yuan (72,000 baht) from devout Thais and Chinese, including Thai residents in China and Thai students in Kunming. Xishuangbanna Zongfo Temple, a temple with a history exceeding 1,000 years, is a central hub for Theravada Buddhism in the region. The ceremony, marking the second royal Kathina robe offering after an initial event in 2016, was organized to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations, highlighting the spiritual bonds between the two countries through Buddhism. Since 1995, the Ministry of Forei gn Affairs has consistently undertaken projects to invite royal Kathina robes to Buddhist temples abroad, with the goal of enhancing international relations through cultural exchange and faith. In 2025, the Royal Kathina robes are scheduled to be offered in eight countries: India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Vietnam, and China. This initiative forms a crucial part of Thailand's cultural diplomacy, focusing on fostering connections at the grassroots level.