Opening Remarks by
HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of Austria
at the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and Austria
2 July 2013, Kaiserwiese in Prater, Vienna

Your Excellency Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul,
Excellencies, Your Excellency Dr. Johannes Kyrle,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening and a very warm welcome to the Thai Festival 2013 in Prater. It is a great pleasure and honour for me to be here with you today at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Austria and Thailand.

I agree with my minister that the relationship between Austria and Thailand did not just begin on 2 July 1953 but we have been friends for almost two centuries when our two countries established consular relations in 1865 and signed the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation in 1869. Since then, Thailand and Austria have developed close and mutually beneficial cooperation in wide-ranging areas including politics, economics, social and culture.  

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
To celebrate this auspicious occasion, the Royal Thai Embassy in collaboration with Team Thailand in Vienna have organized the Thai Festival 2013 from 2 - 7 July 2013 here at Kaiserwiese, Prater. The Festival will offer to the public free admission to the splendours of Thailand, its culture, arts and crafts, and cuisine. Highlights of the Festival are authentic Thai food, cultural performances and dynamic and exciting martial arts like Thai Boxing or Sword Fighting, as well as Thai massage, handicrafts and Thai products. Visitors can also win airplane tickets to Thailand and learn more about my beautiful country regarding tourism, trade, investment opportunities, and about the Thai embassy in Vienna from our information booths. 

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

As we mark this important milestone in our relations, we shall be looking to further strengthening and enhancing our cooperation in the future. Building on the firm foundation forged over the last sixty years, we want to develop a partnership for the 21st Century that will cover all areas, especially in the field of alternative and renewable energy, infrastructure, and tourism.

I am delighted to be part of this auspicious anniversary celebration and would like to sincerely send our best wishes to the Government and the people of the Republic of Austria.  With the great reservoir of friendship and goodwill between our two countries and peoples, I am confident that this year’s celebration will usher in better things to come in the partnership between Thailand and Austria.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As I conclude, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the active collaboration from the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Austrian Embassy in Bangkok, and the City of Vienna. Also special thanks to all the Thai governmental agencies concerned, Team Thailand in Vienna, as well as Thai private sectors, Charoen Pokphand Group CO., LTD. in particular, without them, the event today would not have been possible. I hope that you will enjoy your time this evening experiencing Thailand and our world renowned hospitality right here, in the heart of Vienna.

I now have the honour and pleasure of declaring open the Thai Festival 2013.

Thank you and have a wonderful evening.

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