Excellency the Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

I have an honour that the representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all of you could join us today at the “Thai Celebrations Night”, for which we celebrate many important occasions in this special evening.
It was in this month in 1960, or 50 years ago, that Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand paid a State Visit to Rome which was a rare occasion and has remained the highlight of cordial relations between Thailand and Italy in the contemporary time. A grand and very warm welcome extended to Their Majesties by the Italian hosts from all sectors, especially the then President and Madame Gronchi, was well remembered in our fond memory. The video of the Royal Visit reflects well how high honour of the welcoming ceremony and how good of those hospitality.

As said by His Majesty the King during the said visit, he was pleased to visit the center of civilization of the world. This is what Italy has been recognized throughout the globe. This is a great legacy from the past that Italy is still positioning itself well in the nowadays world. Thailand is pleased that we are among one of the first Asian partners of Italy since the old days and is also pleased that the engagement has been strengthening over the time.

Besides the said Royal Visit, another two Thai Kings, King Rama V and King Rama VII took visits to Italy. The visit of King Rama V in 1897 and 1907 led to the recruitment of Italian architects and engineers to work in the modernization era of Thailand. Those Italians executed their excellence and left their legacy in a number of landmark buildings, bridges and monuments in Bangkok.
The second celebration is our 140 plus years of our diplomatic relations which was established by the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation in 1868. The Italian Embassy in Bangkok and the Thai Embassy in Rome celebrated the 140 years anniversary during 2008-2009 in the respective country. On our part, the Embassy organized activities in many main cities namely launching of commemorative sea voyage in Genoa, the participation of the Thai boxer in a Muay Thai competition in Milan, an academic seminar and golf tournament in Turin, Thai food week and tourism seminar in Catania, Thai food week and business seminar in Florence, a celebration dinner in Napoli and a Thai Floating Market near Ponte Rialto in Venice. All events were well attended and got success. I wish to recognize that these events were made possible with the initiative and guidance of my predecessor, Ambassador Pradap Pibulsonggram, and with excellent assistance provided by our Honorary Consul-Generals in those cities, as well as the Thai communities and Thai agencies in Italy. I would like to express my high appreciation to all of them.
In celebrating the occasion, an important part of the project is the publishing of 3 commemorative books. Tonight, I have an honour to declare launching of the main commemorative publishing titled “A Brotherhood Friendship: Thailand-Italy” or “Buon Fratello e Amico: Thailandia-Italia”. The title of the book is the postscript used in the notes between the Kings of Thailand, or Siam at that time, and the Kings of Italy. The word reflects a very close relation between Thailand and Italy.
I am delighted that our relations have developed into many fields of mutual interest covering political, economic, scientific and other cooperation.
On this occasion, I have the honour to inform that the Thai Foreign Minister, H.E. Mr. Kasit Piromya, will pay a working visit to Rome at the end of this month. This would be another good opportunity to explore ways and means to strengthen our existing good relations.
In addition of the said two celebrations, the year 2010 also marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Airways International. Throughout the years, these two Thai agencies have played important role in helping connect and expose Thailand to the world, both inbound and outbound, while generate significant income to the Thai economy.
In this connection, the offices of Thai tourism and Thai Airways have operated successfully in Italy for quite a long time. Thai Airways set up their office in Rome 35 years ago. Their job is made possible with the good help of agents and partners whom I would like to express our deep appreciation.
I would like to take this opportunity to assure you all that Thailand remains the land of smiles and safe destination for visitors. The country offers many amazing destinations to explore and offers products and services which is of value-for-money. Conflicts and changes happen everywhere in the world including in Thailand. Situation in the country is now under controlled while the reconciliation and reform process are in their work. Meanwhile, the Thai economy is expanding at favorable rate of about 10 percent which is a testimony of the stability of the country and reflects that the growth fundamentals are still strong, thus put economic recovery on a sustainable path.
May I simply say that Thailand is now stable and resumes its progress. Thailand welcomes you all as always and in a more favorable way.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all of you once again for joining me this evening. I hope that you will enjoy our Thai hospitality. I am confident that the relations between Thailand and Italy will further engage and coordinate closely as appears as an interlacing of two garlands in the logo of the 140 years celebration of our diplomatic relations.
Thank you.