On 18 July 2016, Deputy Consul-General Chanida Kamalanavin and officials of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Osaka joined a barbeque party organized by Japan-Thailand Education Exchange Society at Lake Biwa, Shiga prefecture. About 40 participants praised the organizer for its endeavour to strengthen the ties of friendship among Thai people residing in Kansai and Japanese friends of Thailand. Mr. Shigeyo Kimura, President of Japan-Thailand Education Exchange Society, also invited all participants to attend “Japan-Thai Culture Fair” to be held on 9 October 2016 at Kyoto International Community House.