Text and photos: Juan David Latorre
The Embassy of Thailand celebrated National Day yesterday, which is observed annually on December 5th to commemorate, first, the birthday of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, Father of the Nation and Symbol of Peace and Unity; second, National Day; and third, Father’s Day.
Supamas Yunyasit, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Thai Embassy, welcomed the guests, highlighting, first and foremost, the figure of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand, who passed away on October 24th.
“Her Majesty,” Supamas Yunyasit emphasized, “dedicated her entire life to the service of the nation, demonstrating an unwavering commitment, especially to social welfare, environmental protection, and the promotion of traditional Thai handicrafts. Her passing represents a great loss for Thailand, as the Queen was truly a symbol of unity, joy, and the smile of the nation.” A minute of silence was then observed.
“As we remember the enduring legacy of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the father of the Sufficiency Economy philosophy, it is also important to note that this very day was designated by the United Nations as World Soil Day, in recognition of his dedication to sustainable development, including soil management and use, which has contributed to comprehensively improving the lives of Thai farmers,” Supamas Yunyasit pointed out.
The Chargé d’Affaires a.i. emphasized this point. The Embassy stated that “Thailand firmly believes that rules-based multilateralism and international law are essential pillars for peace, stability, and sustainable development. For the past eight decades, Thailand has actively participated in United Nations initiatives and will continue to support peace, economic progress, sustainable development, universal health coverage, climate change mitigation, and the protection of human dignity, as it always has.”
Regarding bilateral relations with Spain, Supamas Yunyasit noted that this year marks the 155th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. “Today,” he stated, “our two countries enjoy cordial and collaborative relations, built on a solid foundation strengthened by the close ties between our royal houses. Thailand considers Spain a strategic partner in the European Union, the OECD, and the United Nations. The success of the political consultations and the Thailand-Spain Forum, held annually, is a testament to our mutual desire to strengthen relations in all dimensions and elevate political momentum to the next level. In the economic sphere, I am pleased to note that the volume of bilateral trade continues to grow each year. This year, during the first 10 months, it is already increasing, reaching a total volume of US$1.6 billion. We are also preparing for further opportunities that will be opened up by the future free trade agreement between Thailand and the European Union. Over the past decade, we have also witnessed rapid growth in Thai investment in Spain in sectors such as tourism, hotel management, and the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and plastics. Therefore, I would like to invite the Spanish private sector to consider further investment in Thailand, with its robust infrastructure and investment facilities.” Offered by the government, Thailand can serve as a gateway to the ASEAN region, a market of over 600 million people.”
Finally, Supamas Yunyasit referred to the Thai tourism sector, noting that it “has fully recovered, with over 26 million international tourists visiting the country in the last ten months. We thank MAPFRE, one of Spain’s leading insurance companies, for choosing Thailand as the venue for its annual conference, which will be held in May with over 2,200 participants. I take this opportunity to invite everyone to experience our warm hospitality in the ‘Land of Smiles,’ where you can discover the beauty of our country and enjoy cultural activities such as Muay Thai and traditional Thai massage.”
