The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, paid an official visit to Thailand for the first time in 11 years to elevate the relationship to a strategic partnership in 2026, which also marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relation between Thailand and New Zealand. The New Zealand Embassy in Thailand hosted a reception at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre for private sector and partner organisations to acknowledge the cooperation policy from the Prime Minister of New Zealand and participate in activities to strengthen friendships.
On this occasion, Thai Beverage Public Company Limited and C ASEAN hosted the “Common Cultural Heritage” activity that has been carried out since 2023 to celebrate cultural similarities of ethnic groups, which serve as foundations of creative exchange and align with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The event showed the cultural connection between Maori and Thai Song Dam ethnic groups, which share a distinctive cultural identity and can completely carry on the sophistication and beauty of their cultures, as well as way of life from generation to generation.
In the event, there were cultural performances from both ethnic groups and an exhibition showing their similarities to foster cultural exchange, learning, and creative presentation.
The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon admired the performances and the exhibition, as they align with the New Zealand government's policy that gives importance to conservation and promotion of Maori culture. This visit also brought Maori cultural performance to the event to cement the relationship between both countries.
Mr. Polapatr Suvarnazorn, Vice Chairman of C ASEAN, Mr. Pisanu Suvanajata, Mr. Kamolnai Chaixanien, Ms. Chamapan Rangaratna, Ms. Tongjai Thanachanan, and Ms. Sutthipun Nujjaya welcomed all guests at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
Ms. Pranom Klongchit, President of the Thai Song Dam Cultural Center, Nong Prong Sub-district, Khao Yoi District, Phetchaburi Province, said, “I feel happy and very proud to have such an opportunity to exchange knowledge and culture with the Maori people, with the support from ThaiBev. We brought products made by the Tai Dam people as souvenirs for the New Zealand government. It is a great pride to welcome a foreign government’s leaders. During preparation for souvenirs and today’s performance, we worked closely with C ASEAN and ThaiBev, allowing us to gain knowledge and receive advice on how to improve our communities' readiness and raise the standards of production and community-based tourism so that they can generate sustainable income.”
Thai Song Dam ethnic groups dwell in many parts of Thailand, and efforts have been made to develop local tourism and community economies, such as the Thai Song Dam Ban Nong Prong community, Nong Prong Sub-district, Khao Yoi District in Phetchaburi Province, and the Thai Song Dam Ban Wang Nam community in Wang Yang Sub-district, Khlong Khlung District, Kamphaeng Phet Province. Thai Beverage Public Company Limited gives high priority to artistic and cultural development with an objective to “bring Thainess to the world” and to “create and share the value of growth.”
