On 12 November 2023, H.E. Mr. Kiattikhun Chartprasert, President of the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship presided over the Offering Ceremony of the Royal Kathina Robes graciously bestowed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua to the congregation of Buddhist monks at Samakkhixay Temple, Luang Namtha Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic. The Laotian dignitaries included H.E. Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh, former Prime Minister of Lao PDR, H.E. Mr. Viengsavath Siphandone, Governor of Luang Namtha Province, H.E. Mr. Ly Bounkham, Chairman of Lao-Thai Association for Friendship, H.E. Mr. Vansy Kouamoua, Vice Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, and H.E. Mr. Khamphan Anlavan, Ambassador of Lao PDR to Thailand. Also present at the ceremony were H.E. Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, H.E. Ms. Morakot Sriswasdi, Ambassador of Thailand to Lao PDR, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientianne, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Savannakhet, Team Thailand Offices, representatives from Thai-Lao Association for Friendship as well as Thai private sectors and Thai community in Lao PDR. Over 2,500 Thais and Laotians attended this Ceremony.

Prior to the Ceremony, on 11 November 2023, a parade of the Royal Kathina Robes was organized along the main roads and the celebration of the Royal Kathina Robe was notably held at Luang Namtha Public Park.

This year marks the 24th Offering Ceremony of the Royal Kathina Robe in Lao PDR. The ceremony was warmly received by Thai and Laotian Buddhists, who were profoundly appreciative of 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. The donation which consisted contributions from His Majesty the King, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand as well as the Thai and Laotian community amounted 1,228,650 Baht and 760,872,000 Kip (or 1,170,573 Baht)

To celebrate this occasion, the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship, in collaboration with the Lao-Thai Association for Friendship and Luang Namtha Province, also organized activities such as Football training for the youths sponsored by Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, a market fair of Thai and Lao products, a series of cultural performance and concert by Thai and Laotian artists as well as a donation of blankets and winter clothes for local hilltribes.

Since 1995, 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, starting from neighboring countries to countries in ASEAN, South Asia, as well as East Asia, where Buddhists are observed. It is part of the cultural diplomacy which serves the aim of strengthening cordial bilateral ties, especially in promoting the people-to-people relations.