On 19 November 2023, H.E. Mr. Nathapol Khantahiran, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs presided over the Offering Ceremony of the Royal Kathina Robe graciously bestowed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua to the congregation of Buddhist monks at Setabo Pagoda, Kandal Province, Kingdom of Cambodia, with the Abbot of Setabo Pagoda being the president of Sangha.

Present at the ceremony were H.E. Mr. Cherdkiat Atthakor, Ambassador of Thailand to Cambodia and spouse, H.E. Mrs. Kanchana Patarachoke, Director-General of the Department of Information, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh, Team Thailand Offices, representatives from Thai private sectors and Thai community in Cambodia. Notably, the Cambodian dignitaries included H.E. Dr. Khy Sovanratana, Secretary of State, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC), H.E. Mr. Neak Sombor, Secretary of State, Ministry of Cults and Religions (MoCR), H.E. Mr. An Sokkhoeurn, Undersecretary of State, MFAIC, and H.E. Mr. Nup Chantarith, Undersecretary of State, MoCR. Over 4,000 Thais and Cambodians attended this Ceremony.

Prior to the Ceremony, on 18 November 2023, the ritual in celebration of the Royal Kathina Robe was notably held at the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh. The Abbot of Setabo Pagoda was invited to chant prayers and give a sermon.

This year, the donation which consisted of contributions from His Majesty the King of Thailand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, as well as the Thai and Cambodian community amounted 27,448 USD and 91,109,600 Riel (or 1,774,992 Baht)

The Royal Kathina Robes have been bestowed by the Thai Monarch, at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to be presented to Buddhist temples abroad since 1995, including Cambodia. Since then, the Ministry has been carrying on the practice almost every year in Maha Nikaya and Dhammayuttika Nikaya temples in Cambodia with 2023 being the 23rd Royal Kathina Ceremony in the country. This year, His Holiness Samdech Preah Aggamahasangharajadhipati Tep Vong, the Great Supreme Patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism selected Setabo Pagoda to be presented with the Royal Kathina Robe from the Thai Monarch.

The ceremony was warmly received by Thai and Cambodian Buddhists, who profoundly appreciated the royal benevolence in supporting Buddhism. The Royal Kathina Ceremony has become a testimony to the deeply rooted bonds of friendship between the governments and the peoples of the two countries, based on common cultural heritage including their shared faith in Theravada Buddhism. Also, it is part of cultural diplomacy which serves the aim of strengthening cordial bilateral ties, especially in promoting people-to-people relations.