Bangkok, 28 January, 2017 – High-level officials of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Kingdom of Thailand, led by H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, and H.E. Mr. Ning Fukui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the PRC to the Kingdom of Thailand, jointly extended their wishes for the people of China and Thailand as well as around the world for happiness, prosperity and success in the New Year of the Rooster.
The special ceremony was held yesterday on the main stage of the 37th Thailand Tourism Festival (TTF) at Bangkok’s Lumpini Park.
They were joined by Mr. Xie Jinying, Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the PRC’s Ministry of Culture; H.E. Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports; Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); and high-ranking executives of the TAT as well as the local and international visitors at the TTF 2017.
H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn (above picture, left) sampled some of the delicious dishes while touring the Chinatown Zone of the TTF 2017 with senios officials from the PRC and Thailand.They were joined by Mr. Xie Jinying, Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the PRC’s Ministry of Culture; H.E. Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports; Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); and high-ranking executives of the TAT as well as the local and international visitors at the TTF 2017.
Thailand celebrates Chinese New Year annually as a way of recognising the massive contribution that Thais of Chinese heritage have made to Thailand over the centuries. The celebrations also mark the 42nd year of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the PRC.
H.E. General Tanasak said, “Relations between Thailand and the People’s Republic of China have always been strong and our countries have shared knowledge, goods and friendship for centuries.
“I would like to thank the government of the People’s Republic of China for taking part once again in Thailand’s celebrations of the Chinese New Year and for extending the New Year gifts, sending famous Chinese Chefs from Beijing and many cultural performance groups from across China to the TTF 2017 to share their amazing skills with visitors.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to wish Chinese people all over the world, a prosperous Year of the Rooster.”
Among the Chinese New Year 2017 celebrations on the main stage of the 37th TTF was an impressive Chinese dragon dance performed by the famous Pak Nam Pho Golden Dragon troupe from Nakon Sawan, a Thai province which has many people of Chinese decent.
There are also a range of cultural shows, acrobatic and Chinese cooking displays taking place in the Chinatown Zone of the TTF 2017, which will continue till Sunday, 29 January.
Thailand is home to one of the largest overseas Chinese communities in the world and also renowned for hosting the biggest celebrations of the Lunar New Year outside of the PRC. For this year, TAT is celebrating the New Year of the Rooster with a touch of Thainess, and incorporating the revels into the TTF 2017.
In addition, TAT has extended support to major destinations nationwide in their celebrations to mark the New Year celebrations.