On 23 - 24 October 2013, H.E. Mr. Nuttavudh Photisaro, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presided over the Offering Ceremony of the Royal Kathin Robes, graciously bestowed by His Majesty the King through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the congregation of monks at Niroth Raingsey Monastery, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

                        Also present at the ceremony were H.E. Mr. Touchayoot Pakdi, Thai Ambassador to Cambodia, and high-rank officials from Cambodia agencies, namely H.E. Mr. Var Kim, Hong Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia in charge of State Border Affairs; H.E. Mr. Em Sam An, Secretary of State, Ministry of Interior; H.E. Dr. Nouv Sovathero, Secretary of State, Ministry of Information; H.E. Mr. Pit Chamnan, Secretary of State, Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport; H.E. Mr. So Mara, Secretary of State, Ministry of Tourism, H.E. Ms. Menh Kossony, Secretary of State, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts; H.E. Mr. Trac Thai Seing, Deputy Governor of Phnom Penh Capital City; H.E. Academician Sum Chhumbun, Vice President of the Cambodian- Thai Friendship Association; as well as H.E. Mr. Yaseng Lao, Ambassador of Lao PDR to Cambodia, H.E. U Cho Htun Aung, Ambassador of Myanmar to Cambodia, honourable guests and over 300 Thai and Cambodian Buddhists.

                        The offering of the Royal Kathin Robes in Phnom Penh, Cambodia aims to strengthen cordial relations between the two countries, especially at the people-to-people level.  Being close neighbors, Thailand and Cambodia also observe similar Buddhist culture which made Cambodia one of the three pilot countries that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs started this project of the Royal Kathin Robes Offering Ceremony abroad in 1995.  The project has been carried on in Cambodia annually ever since and it was held twice at Niroth Raingsey Monastery in 2009 and 2011.

The ceremony this year was held successfully. The donation by His Majesty the King and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Thai and Cambodian Buddhists totaled 393,080 Baht (approximately 51,100,400 Cambodian Riel) to support construction of a Monk school at Niroth Raingsey Monastery, expected to be completed in December this year.