On 9 September 2024, Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the Vin d’Honneur to celebrate the 40 years anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta at the Intercontinental Hotel.

In her remarks, the Deputy Permanent Secretary highlighted the warm and cordial bond of friendship for the past 4 decades. At the highest level, during the World Food Programme Conference in Rome in 2004, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn met with Fra' Andrew Bertie, the Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta. In addition, in 2022, H.E. Mr. Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta travelled to Thailand to attend the Order of Malta’s 11thAsia-Pacific Conference in Bangkok. The Deputy Permanent Secretary also recalled with gratitude the Order of Malta Association in Thailand’s active role in having activities focusing on humanitarian assistance in Thailand and neighbouring countries.

The Order of Malta Association in Thailand provides humanitarian assistance in Thailand since 1979, such as rebuilding the communities in the South of Thailand that were affected by the 2004 tsunami, helping distribute 4,000 blankets to the needy elderly and young children affected by the cold weather in the Blanket Project in 2021 and recently hosting the Asia Pacific Youth Camp for the Disabled during 2-6 September 2024 in Pattaya.