On 13 - 16 November 2013, H.E. Mr. Kiattikhun Chartprasert, 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 MantingFota Temple, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, People’s Republic of China.

                        Also present at the ceremony were Mr. Vichit Chitvimarn, Consul-General of Thailand to Kunming; H.E. Mr. Wang Fangrong, Vice Mayor of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture; Mr. Dao Shuren, President of the Buddhist Association of Yunnan Province and Vice Chairman of the Chinese Buddhism Association; Mr. Ai Ying, Vice Secretary General of Xishuangbanna Government; Mr. Ai Liang, Director General of Religious Bureau of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture; honourable guests and over 2,500 local (Dai Lue) Buddhists.

                        The offering of the Royal Kathin Robe in China aims to strengthen people-to-people relations, especially with Dai Lue who reside in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. This has contributed significantly to the cordial relations between China, especially Yunnan Province, and Thailand who are geographically close to one another and share similar aspects of living such as religion (Buddhism), culture and ethnic origin.

                        Since 1999 the project of the Royal Kathin Robe Offering Ceremony in China has been carried on by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 12 years, six of which were held in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture.

The ceremony this year was held successfully. The donation by His Majesty the King and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as Dai Lue and Chinese Buddhists totaled approximately 440,000 Bahts.