On 1 December 2022, H.E. Ms. Vimolbajra Ruksakiati, Ambassador of Thailand to Norway, hosted a Reception on the occasion of the Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, Thai National Day, and Thai Father’s Day at the Thai Residence. The Reception was attended by distinguished participants including Mrs. Tone Elisabeth Bækkevold Allers, Chief of Protocol and Director General, Department for Cultural Relations and Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Vebjørn Dysvik, Director General, Department for Regional Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Merete Fjeld Brattested, Director General, Department for Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador of Norway to Thailand, Mrs. Ragne Birte Lund, former Ambassador of Norway to Thailand, Mrs. Solveig Skauan, former Honorary Consulate General of Thailand, Mr. Sveinung Fransplass Røren, Director, Section for Trade Agreements, Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, representatives from Stortinget, a representative from Porsgrunn Kommune, Mr. Håkon Glørstad, Director of Museum of Cultural History, Mr. Egil Lothe, Secretary General of the Buddhist Federation of Norway, as well as members of Diplomatic corps in Norway, including Ambassadors of Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, India, Canada, Turkey, Morocco, Mexico, Egypt, Brazil, and Bulgaria, and representatives from business sector, including Mr. Svein J. Liknes, CEO of OKEA, and representatives from Thai communities in Norway such as Thai Women Association in Norway, Thai-Norway Language and Cultural Association, Thailand NIE Learning Centre in Østfold, Thai Student in Norway group, and Thai Music and Dance Club in Norway.

 

Ambassador Vimolbajra paid respect in front of the royal portraits of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phravajiraklaochaoyuhua. On this occasion, Ambassador Vimolbajra delivered her remarks, honoring in praise and remembrance of the continuous hard work of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great during his 70-year reign. His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phravajiraklaochaoyuhua has carried on the development projects of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and initiated the Royal Volunteers Project.

 

Ambassador Vimolbajra said that Thailand and Norway share constructive and meaningful friendship. The tie between Thailand and Norway is a matter of historic pride dated to the visit to Norway of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn in 1907, two years after the Norwegian Independence, which created a solid foundation for the bilateral relations. Currently, both countries share wide range of issues of cooperation from telecommunication, innovation, sustainable and maritime development, green transition, aquaculture, health, and arctic research.

 

This year, the bilateral relations are dynamic with the resumption of free trade area negotiation between Thailand and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the visit by Thai energy sector who came to cooperate with Norway’s Carbon Capture and Storage technology. The Royal Thai Embassy in Oslo will increase our cooperation on Norway’s green transition policy and Thailand’s Bio-Circular Green (BCG) Economy. Ambassador Vimolbajra also highlighted the people-to-people bonds symbolizes by the Thai community in Norway of over 30,000 people. They represent Thailand-Norwegian relations in the most genuine and sustainable way.

 

After her remarks, Ambassador Vimolbajra invited the attendances to pay respect to the Royal Anthem of Thailand and the Norwegian National Anthem and proposed a toast to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phravajiraklaochaoyuhua and His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.

The Reception features Thai cultural shows, including Thai Traditional Dance, Thai Classical music, fruits and vegetables carving, cooking demonstration of an appetizer and promote Thai food and Thai desserts.

 

Photographs are taken by Mr. Wannachai Injaeng and he can be contacted at 90964879 or follow his facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/welaiphoto.