Leading up to the concluding BRICS summit, we spoke to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand in the Russian Federation, Sasiwat WONGSINSAWAT.
– Russian President Vladimir Putin said at last year’s St Petersburg International Cultural Forum – Forum of United Cultures – that relations between Russia and Thailand have historically had a ‘special character’ and that our countries will continue to develop them, building on ‘all the best’ that we have inherited from history. Mr Ambassador, how would you characterize the current level of relations between our countries?
– The relationship between Thailand and Russia has been established for more than 127 years. Our mutually beneficial and dynamic diplomatic relations between Thailand and Russia have been growing dynamically. This is reaffirmed through various meetings at different levels. The 8th session of the Joint Thai-Russian Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JC) held on April 2023 reiterated and expanded dynamics of our cooperation in key areas, specifically trade and investment, technology, and innovation (STI), culture and tourism.
Among those areas, the promising ones that should be further strengthened are tourism and cultural cooperation. An endorsement at the JC meeting to mark the year 2024 as a “Year of Cultural Exchange and Tourism between Thailand and Russia” has laid solid ground for several cultural and tourism events and activities in both countries throughout the year. Those events and activities help reinforce mutual understanding and contacts between our people. We should continue to be innovative and find creative ways to promote those areas of cooperation, which will naturally bring about more economic opportunities and prosperity between our two countries.
– In June 2024 Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said that the Thai government was considering joining BRICS. BRICS is interested in expanding in the southeastern direction: at the moment, none of the ASEAN states is a member of the organization, even though this region is one of the most promising in terms of economic potential. What does Thailand expect to gain from the BRICS membership, and what is Thailand ready and able to offer to the alliance?
– Thailand reaffirms our readiness and determination to become a full member of BRICS at the earliest possibility.
Thailand appreciates the invitation from President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation to H.E. Mrs. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, to attend the BRICS Outreach/BRICS Plus, which will be held in Kazan on October 23-24, 2024.
Thailand has followed the development of BRICS, including the recent expansion of BRICS to include key energy and food exporting countries, with keen interest. This is a significant move towards a more inclusive and impactful BRICS that has greater potential to shape the global agenda. We appreciate BRICS’s proactive and constructive role in strengthening inclusive multilateralism, moving forward the reform of international economic architecture and realizing inclusive and sustainable economic development.
Therefore, Thailand has continuously participated in all high-level BRICS meetings that we were invited and hope to contribute to BRICS as means to promote the voice of developing countries in global governance and policymaking, especially in the areas of international finance, food and energy security, green transition and supply chain development.
– Your Excellency, you have highly appreciated the significance of the II International Buddhist Forum, which was recently held in Ulan-Ude. In your opinion, how can Buddhism be applied globally to meet and overcome the current challenges?
– As in my Remarks at the 2nd International Buddhist Forum, amid the ongoing global uncertainties and challenges, perhaps the most important factor is us, the humans. Therefore, the most challenging task starts with ourselves. By that, I mean how to prepare our own mind, emotions, and perceptions towards the truth of life and all happenings in order to achieve the everlasting inner peace and wisdom. As a Buddhist myself, I know that Buddhist teachings can offer ways for individuals to practice for that path.
Apart from the human factor, I believe that interaction and dialogue are also crucial in finding commonality among differences, similarity among diversity, and common grounds among divergence. These are indeed the essence of diplomacy. Therefore, the International Buddhist Forum becomes even more relevant to today’s world and will be a precious opportunity for exchanges of insights and experiences on Buddhism core values and principles from different social contexts. I look forward to the 3rd International Buddhist Forum next year in the Republic of Kalmykia.
– This year 2024 has been declared a cross year of cultural exchanges and tourism between Russia and Thailand. What would you highlight as the most significant events you have participated in?
– Since January, a series of cultural events and activities have been organised by relevant agencies of our two countries. From the Royal Thai Embassy’s part, in late January, I brought Igor Butman and his quintet to perform three concerts in Bangkok, Hua Hin, and Chiangmai. This was their second tour in Thailand. While introducing Russian jazz to Thailand may seem like a less traditional approach, it is important that we get to experience each other’s culture in its broadest spectrum, from folk to contemporary art, from traditions to innovations, and to realize that our countries actually have so many things to offer for each other.
March, the Royal Thai Embassy in Moscow organised a photo exhibition at “Pristine Russia” Festival, which is the largest wildlife photography festival in Russia. The ultimate value of these photos – apart from their aesthetical value – is the fact that they portray hidden beauty of Thailand, far beyond the colorful images we get to see in travel brochures. Here, one can feel the secrets of the pristine purity of flora and fauna in Thailand, and take a glimpse into the potentials of a more sustainable and inclusive tourism of the two countries.
In May, I led a group of Russian influencers in the field of gastronomy and wine in our culinary trip to discover the unknown and experienced different perspectives of cultures and ways of life in the Northeastern Thailand or known as “Isaan”.
In August, I organised an annual “Thai Festival in Moscow”. It has been 10 years since we set out on a journey aimed at creating an opportunity for our Russian friends to get acquainted with examples of Thai culture in the heart of Russia. This year the festival was set under the theme “Discovering Thailand: from local to global”, presenting special attention to the creative achievements, food, fashion, textile, music, and cultural traditions of different regions, particularly “Isaan” region.
Just recently in early September, I brought a group of art collectors to get a grasp of Thailand as a trendy destination for art and creative masterpieces. During this trip, the participants attended the “Swan Lake Ballet” by Bolshoi Theatre, which performed in Bangkok for the first time in history to celebrate the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary. The premiere of Bolshoi’s Swan Lake on 13th September 2024 was graciously presided over by Thai Majesties the King and the Queen of Thailand.
I consider these key activities as missions to provide our people chances to learn more about one another. Once the mutual understanding between our people grows, the existing potential for business opportunities will arise naturally and become more evident to both parties. We are highly grateful to all parties involved in the success of the Year of Cultural Exchange and Tourism for the mutual benefit of our two peoples and countries in the years to come.
– The interest of Russian tourists in your country has been growing steadily lately. Is there a growing interest in learning Russian in Thailand?
– Russian tourists are known and loved in Thailand. Last year alone, almost 1.5 million Russian tourists visited our country. Therefore, the interest in learning Russian is growing accordingly. At least, three well-known Thai universities provide Russian courses to the Thai students. At the same time, there is also a growing desire of learning Thai language in Russia reflecting in one of the latest proposals from the Russian universities to cooperate in this field with the university in Thailand, which I fully support.
– In one of your interviews, speaking about Russia, you said the following: ‘People here live together peacefully and, I would say, beautifully. I think this is the main secret of your country, which I have managed to discover over the past 3.5 years’.
Therefore, at the end of the interview, the traditional question of the New Eastern Outlook. What do you like most of all in Russia? What places have you been to? In general, what is your Russia like?
– I have been travelling across Russia during the past 3 years and a half. Amazingly, the first region I visited when I arrived in Russia was Kemerovo-Kuzbass. After that, I’ve been to Vladivostok, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Ulan-Ude in the Republic of Buryatia, and of course Saint Petersburg countless times. What I impressed the most is the diversity of Russia. Although Thailand and Russia are geographically distant with diverse climates, I found that our two countries share similarities as being rich in natural resources, ecological landscapes and biodiversity, shaped by their unique geographical features. Despite the great difference in size of their territories, both are multiethnic and multicultural nations whose governments and their peoples have fostered a society in which people live in peace and harmony.
However, to answer the very first question specifically, what I like the most in Russia is Russian people. I am afraid that we will need another interview for me to explain why!
– Your Excellency, we thank you from the bottom of our Russian soul for the immensely interesting, current and, at the same time, heartfelt conversation. We wish our countries prosperity and hope that you will be a recurring guest of our magazine.
Interview conducted by Yulia NOVITSKAYA, writer, correspondent of “New Eastern Outlook”
