On 19 July 2014 H.E. Mr. Somchai Charanasomboon, Ambassador of Thailand, and his wife, Viyada, attended the 117th Commemoration of King Rama V’s visit to Ragunda on 19 July 1897, at Chulalongkorn’s Memorial Pavilion in Ragunda, Sweden. Mrs. Terese Bengard Mayor of Ragunda, Mr. Mikael Sjölund, Chairman of Culture, Education and Recreation Committee of Sollefteå Kommun, Representatives from Thailand, Thai community in Sweden and Swedish people attended the said ceremony. 

         H.E. Ambassador Somchai gave an opening remarks and highlighted the Memorial Pavilion,as a symbol, representing the cordial and close relations between the royal families and the peoples of Thailand and Sweden over century. The King Chulalongkorn’s Pavilion was built to honour and memorize the State Visit of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn to Sweden and furthered His visit to Ragunda on 19 July 1897. King Chulalongkorn succeeded in promoting friendly relationships between Thailand and Sweden and laid the solid foundation of the close and cordial ties existing between the two countries for 117 years. On this occasion, H.E. Ambassador Somchai also updated Thailand’s political developments, including efforts to achieve the national reform and political stability by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) through the three-phase Roadmap.

         Apart from the commemoration ceremony, there were also Thai cultural performances presented by students from Prince of Songkla University, Trang Campus and Thai food and products organized by the cooperation of Ragunda Kummun and Thai Community in Sweden, keeping the participants entertained.