On 3 November 2017, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, presided over the Offering Ceremony of the Royal Kathin Robe graciously granted by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, to the congregation of Buddhist monks at Lingguang Temple in Beijing headed by the abbot, the Venerable Shi Chang Zhang.  More than 100 Thais and Chinese Buddhists attended the ceremony. Also present were Mrs. Narirat Pramudwinai, Spouse of the Minister, and high rank officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which included H.E. Mr. Piriya Khempon, Ambassador of Thailand to China, Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Director-General of the Department of Information, Mr. Singtong Lapisatepun, Director-General of the Department of East Asian Affairs. The Chinese dignitaries consisted of by H.E. Mr. Jiang Jianyong, Deputy Director of State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA), Mr. Xue Shuqi, Vice Director of Foreign Affairs Department, SARA and Mr. Liu Wei, Secretary-General of the Buddhist Association of China. 

          The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized the Royal Kathin Ceremony in China since 1996. This year was the 17th ceremony in China, but the first time in Beijing. Lingguang Temple is renowned for housing the Buddha tooth relic. In 2002, the relic was exhibited in Thailand on the occasion of the 75th Birthday Anniversary of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.  In 2016, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha paid a visit to the temple to pay respect to the relic.  After the Royal Kathin ceremony, the Thai Foreign Minister and delegation also paid respect to the sacred Buddha tooth relic.  

          The Royal Kathin Ceremony was warmly received by both Thai and Chinese Buddhists, who were profoundly appreciative of royal benevolence in supporting Buddhism.  Since 1995, the Royal Kathin Robes have been bestowed by the Thai Monarch, at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to be presented to Buddhist temples abroad.  The Royal Kathin Ceremony is a testimony to the deeply -  rooted bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries based on common cultural heritage including their shared faith in Buddhism.