Ｔｈａｉ Ｐｒｉｎｃｅｓｓ Ｓｉｒｉｎｄｈｏｒｎ ＲｅｃｅｉｖｅｓＴｉｔｌｅ ｏｆ Ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓｈｉｐ Ａｍｂａｓｓａｄｏｒ

The CPAFFC held a ceremony on February 26， 2004 to confer the title of Friendship Ambassador upon Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in recognition of the outstanding contributions she had made over the years to enhancing understanding and friendship between the people of China and Thailand. CPAFFC President Chen Haosu presented the medal and certificate to the Princess who was in China for a visit and spoke at the ceremony.

President Chen Haosu said， Princess Sirindhorn cherishes profound friendly sentiments towards China and the Chinese people. Since 1981 she has visited China many times， traveling far and wide. This is her 18th visit to China through which she will complete her visit to all the Chinese provinces and autonomous regions. In every visit the Princess would not only publicize Thailand and sow the seeds of Thai people’s friendship among the Chinese people wherever she went， but also vividly and objectively publicize China among the Thai people， when shen returns home， through the Thai media and by writing books， opening a window for the Thai people to learn about the culture， society， history and the present development of China and promoting the understanding and friendship between the two peoples. She waters the flowers of Sino-Thai friendship with her perspiration and hard work， and has blazed the road of Sino-Thai friendship with her untiring travels and made outstanding contributions to the promotion of mutual understanding and friendship between the people of our two countries. Conferring upon Princess Sirindhorn the title of Friendship Ambassador by the CPAFFC has expressed the Chinese people’s respect and admiration for her and complied with the strong desires of the people of our two countries for lasting friendship.

In her reply， Princess Sirindhorn expressed her happiness to receive this honourable title of Friendship Ambassador and thanked everyone for their recognition of and praises for what she had done. She said: “Twenty-three years ago when I started to learn Chinese， the idea of going to visit the mysterious country China came to my mind. My dream came true in 1981. When I first set foot on the land of dragon I was fascinated by her rich and splendid culture and moved by her beautiful mountains and rivers. I wanted to know her past and future and I wanted to see every part of her. Perhaps it was then that I decided to travel all over China. China is a vast country with varying natural landscape. Decorated with numerous historic sites and modern achievements， she has become even more majestic and glorious. Every time I visit China I always write down what I see and hear and then compile them into a book and publish it in Thailand. I want to let the people of Thailand know more about China and have a deeper understanding of the country.” Princess Sirindhorn said that she would continue to contribute her bit to the spreading of the Thai and Chinese cultures and the promotion of friendship and exchanges between the two peoples.

Present at the conferring ceremony were more than 100 people of various circles from China and Thailand.