On 3 November 2013, Dr. Virabongsa Ramangkura, President of Thai-Lao Association for Friendship, presided over the Offering Ceremony of the Royal Kathin Robe, graciously bestowed by His Majesty the King through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the congregation of monks at Wat Sibounheuang Xaiyaram, Xam Neua, Lao PDR.

                        Also present at the ceremony were Mr. Pisanu Chanvitan, Ambassador of Thailand to Lao PDR; President of Thai Puan Society; Dr. Bosengkham Vongdara, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism and President of Lao-Thai Association for Friendship; Mr. Khamhung Hungvongsi, Governor of Houaphanh Province; officials from the Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane; representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; members of Thai and Lao press; the Thais, especially Thai Puan, who travelled from Thailand as well as over 500 Xam Neua local people.

The ceremony this year was held successfully.  The Lao PDR received the Royal Kathin Robe with honor throughout the ceremony, from the arrival at the Xam Neua Airport on 2 November until the end of the ceremony on 3 November 2013, whereby hundreds of participants attended in each activity. 

The benevolence of His Majesty the King as the upholder of religions, not only in Thailand but also abroad is well recognized by monks and participants of the Royal Kathin Robe Offering Ceremony from both countries.  The offering of the Royal Kathin Robe in Xam Neua, Lao PDR aims to strengthen cordial relations between the two countries, especially at the people-to-people level.  As Thailand’s close neighbour, who also observes similar Buddhist culture, Lao PDR was 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 Lao PDR annually ever since.  The donation by His Majesty the King and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Thai and Lao Buddhists totaled 1,778,250 Bahts.

                        Apart from the ceremony, the Thai-Lao and Lao-Thai Associations for Friendship also jointly organized other CSR activities with several agencies such as Toyota Motor Company Ltd. to provide exercise equipments for Xam Neua Park; Double A Company Ltd. to donate paper notebooks for students; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand to construct drainage system and to grow vetiver grass in order to prevent landslide at Wat Sibounheuang Xaiyaram.  The Thai-Lao Association for Friendship also invited Lao and Thai artists, which include PongLangSaOn (Northeastern Thai Folk Band) to perform for the public of around 3,000 persons.