On 17 February 2018, Mrs. Thippawan Supamitkitja, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Royal Thai Embassy, together with Ambassadors of ASEAN Member States in Canberra attended the opening ceremony of “ASEAN Village” at the 22nd National Multicultural Festival in Canberra.

          During the opening ceremony, Chargé d’Affaires, Ambassadors of ASEAN Member States, Ms. Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Minister of Multicultural Affairs, and Mr. Brendan Smyth, ACT Commissioner for International Engagement, sang the ASEAN Song of Unity and visited the booths of ASEAN Member States together.  Embassies of ASEAN Member States have set-up booths to promote tourism as well as showcased the cultural performances to raise ASEAN awareness among the Australian public.

          This year, the Royal Thai Embassy together with Tourism Authority of Thailand in Sydney have set-up Thailand booth within the ASEAN Village to promote Thailand and Thai Tourism as well as a demonstrate the making of Thai-style ice block for free tasting.  In addition, the Embassy invited representatives of Thai Community and Thai students in Canberra to participate in the parade dressed up in the national costumes of 4 regions of Thailand.  

          On this occasion, Chargé d’Affaires welcomed Mr. Andrew Barr, ACT Chief Minister and Ms. Rachel Stephen-Smith at the Thai booth and presented a souvenir to ACT Chief Minister as a token of appreciation for his support to the Royal Thai Embassy.

          The National Multicultural Festival is one of the most important and biggest event of Canberra.  Since 1996 it has brought together different communities in Canberra in a celebration of Australia’s diversity.  In 2017, there were approximately 280,000 people attended the three-day event.  Every year, there are about 80 countries including Thailand participate in this Festival.