On 11 April 2022, H.E. Mr. Chittipat Tongprasroeth, Ambassador of Thailand to Switzerland, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Grégoire Junod, Mayor of the City of Lausanne, at Lausanne City Hall, Canton of Vaud. The meeting was intended to be an introductory meeting for the Thai Ambassador and was incidentally his first official function outside of Bern since the presentation of his credentials to the Swiss President on 5 April 2022.

During the meeting, Ambassador Tongprasroeth reiterated the importance of  the City of Lausanne to Thailand as it is the place where King Rama VIII and King Rama IX spent 18 of their formative years. For this reason, Thai people have long had a special bond with and fondness of Lausanne. The Royal Thai Embassy therefore wishes to strengthen relations with Lausanne in all dimensions, particularly people-to-people contact.    

Both sides also exchanged views on how to promote closer cooperation in various fields, including the strengthening of cooperation between the Bangkok Metropolitan and the City of Lausanne, which are parties to a Sister City Agreement, as well as promoting cultural and sport cooperation with Lausanne, which is known as the world’s Capital of Sport, being the seat of the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee and more than 50 international sport federations. The Thai Ambassador also expressed intention of the Olympic Committee of Thailand to promote Muay Thai and advocate for its inclusion in the list of sports competed at future Olympic Games.