Leadership of CICCC meets with Minister of Culture from Thailand Mr. Sontaya Kunplome and his accomp

       Reported by Zhang Xiaofan：the First Place Chairman of China International Cultural Communication Center Tang Tianbiao met with the visiting Thai Minister of Culture Mr. Sontaya Kunplome and his accompanying officials at the Great Hall of the People on 2^nd August. The two sides exchanges views on matters including cultural communication and the planning founding of the Thai Culture Center in China. Vice chairman of CICCC Zhang Li, executive chairman of CICCC Long Yuxiang attended the event.

1^st place Chairman of CICCC Tang Tianbiao met with visiting Thai Minister of Culture Sontaya Kunplome and accompanying officials at the Great Hall of the People   ( photo by Zuo Fei )

1^st place Vice Chairman Tang Tianbiao and vice chairman of CICCC Zhang Li chat amicably to sontaya and his wife  ( photo by Zuo Fei )

       On behalf of chairman Is’mail Tiliwaldi, Tang Tianbiao firstly extended warm welcome to the Thai guests, saying that “the two countries have a long-established friendship. Since the establishment of the diplomatic ties of the two nations in 1975, the friendship of them has seen rapid and steady development. Cultural exchanges and cooperation have produced promising outcomes due to high importance and joint efforts made by the two sides. I have visited Thailand twice and have received many friends from Thailand visiting China. I am very delighted to see you in my homeland. Last year, during Prime Minister Yingluck’s visiting to China, seven treaties on trade and economy, agricultural products, natural disasters prevention, railway, and natural resource preservation, have been signed between the two countries. The leaders then also decided to upgrade the relationship between the two from previous strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership. Overall, Thailand is a good neighbor, a good partner, a good friend and a good relative. Minister Sontaya Kunplome’s visit to China and our communication over matters of cultural exchanges and founding Thailand Culture Center are warmly welcomed and full-heartedly supported by us. I wish we would found the Thailand Culture Center soon so that more and more Chinese will come to understand the culture of Thai and to push forward the friendly relationship between our two nations. Executive chairman of CICCC briefed Mr. Sontaya and the rest of the Thai delegation on the choosing of the location for the Culture Center. He suggested that “CICCC attached great importance to this matter and the whole body stood ready to support. CICCC has carried out many and various exchanges and cooperation with Thailand. We have organized for many times arts delegation to visit Thailand. In terms of education exchanges, CICCC works actively to sponsor and organize students of two sides to exchange and learn from each other. We planned to select outstanding Chinese students to study in Thailand. Regarding sports communication, CICCC has taken part in boxing contest for several times in Thailand. Players from both countries won countless awards through international participation. They are not only the pride of their respective nation, but also the heroes of Asia at large. This is the charm and power of sports, as well as the influence of culture. I hope that with strong help and support of Mr. Minister, the two side would carry out more and deeper communication and cooperation.

Leadership of CICCC meets Minister of Culture from Thailand Mr. Sontaya Kunplome and his accompanying officials   ( photo by Zuo Fei )

         Minister Sontaya shared the views of 1^st Chairman Tang Tianbiao and Executive chairman Long Yuxiang. He was sincerely grateful for the warm welcome and strong support received by the Thai side. He continued to assert “my visit to China aims to move forward the friendly and continuous exchanges and cooperation in all aspects between the two nations. This year marks the 38^th anniversary of the founding of the diplomatic ties between Thailand and China. Last year, China set up the Chinese Culture Center in the capital city of my home country. This year we hope to build up our Culture Center in China too. The Center will become another witness and proof of our friendship. This action marks the first Thailand Culture Center even built in a foreign soil and China becomes the first host country of Thailand’s overseas Culture Center. The founding of the Culture Center will help to improve the cultural exchanges to a newer level.”

1^st place Vice Chairman of CICCC Tang Tianbiao presents Sontaya with Chinese arts   ( photo by Zuo Fei )

      The two sides exchanged gifts and had their group photo taken after meeting.

      Among present were Mrs. Sukumol Kunplome, wife of the Minister of Culture, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture Ms. Chansuda Rukspollmuang, Secretary to the Minister of Culture Mr. Pipat Lertkittisuk, Vice President of the Thai-Chinese Cultural and Economy Association Mr. Bundit Sirithunyhong, advisers to the Minister of Culture Mr. Chen Bin and Ms. Suvimol Tongsirikul, Senior Architect of Thailand Mrs. Jeetheng Piyakarn, First Secretary of Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing Mr. Worawut Smuthkalin. Art directors of CICCC Cao Yumin, Sheng Hetai, Director-general of the Communication Department of CICCC Xiao Ping, Director-general of the General Office Zuo Jinling, commissioner of the Overseas Security Department Wu Li also attended the event.  

Group photo of attending guests   ( photo by Zuo Fei )