On October 31st, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand visited Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS). CPC Secretary of GDUFS, SUI Guangjun, President ZHONG Weihe, Vice President FANG Fanquan and XU Guobin attended the welcoming ceremony. Princess Sirindhorns latest visit is distinguished from her most recent two visits because, as the nominal head of the History Department of Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA), this time the Princess led a group of students of CRMA for culture communications experiences.
Princess Sirindhorn visiting the library accompanied by SUI Guangjun and
ZHONG Weihe
At the welcoming ceremony, President ZHONG Weihe extended his warm welcome to Princess Sirindhorn and her delegation. Princess Sirindhorn is proficient in Chinese language and has a deep interest in Chinese history. She has earned a high reputation in China for her great contributions to the mutual cooperation and friendship between China and Thailand. President ZHONG Weihe presented a brief introduction of GDUFS' most recent developments pointing out that GDUFS and Thai universities have a long history of exchange and cooperation relationships.
Now, GDUFS has exchange programs with 8 Thai universities including Chulalongkorn University; Srinakharinwirot University and Bangkok University. As a significant talent pool for Tail language in China and an important port for educational exchanges, GDUFS is well-established as a bridge for the friendship between China and Thailand.
Professor LIN Xiumei introduced the initiation of the development of the GDUFS major in the Thai Language inclucing the aspects of classroom teaching, extracurricular activities and textbook compilation. The GDUFS Student Representative of the Thai Language Program, ZHOU Yongchun, spoke in fluent Thai to show her respect for Princess Sirindhorn and then a traditional Thai dance ?the Sukhothai, was performed by a Chinese student of the Thai Language major.
Princess Sirindhorn enjoying the performance
Students from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy listening to the introduction
Following the ceremony, Princess Sirindhorn visited the GDUFS library. She recommended some interesting Thai books by explaining the background and content in fluent Chinese. At a table alongside the Thai bookshelves, Princess Sirindhorn wrote a piece of calligraphy - four Chinese characters meaning "the bridge of friendship".
Princess Sirindhorn writing her pledge in Chinese calligraphy
In the GDUFS Laboratory of Simultaneous Interpretation, Princess Sirindhorn spoke highly of the students of our Thai major for the high-quality of their performance. Students from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy also had communication and interaction with students here in GDUFS.
Princess Sirindhorn experiencing simultaneous interpreting between Thai and Chinese
Communication between students from GDUFS and CRMA
Princess Sirindhorn's visit is a great compliment and encouragement to GDUFS especially for our Thai Language major students. All these interchanges further strengthen future exchanges and cooperation. According to the Ambassador of Thailand to China (shown in the photo below), Thailand plans to establish a culture centre in China next year, specifically for the purpose of strengthening exchanges in language, the gastronomy and forms of classical and cultural entertainment of the two countries.
The Ambassador of Thailand to China talking about establishment of cultural centres
