Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has been awarded the Friendship Medal -- the highest honour given by the Chinese government to foreigners, as the People's Republic of China prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is one of 42 honorees to be decorated with medals and honorary titles for their contributions to China.
The official announcement was reported by Xinhua News Agency, after Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday signed a presidential decree to recognise individuals ahead of the country's 70th anniversary on Oct 1.
Six foreigners, including HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, will be awarded the Friendship Medal. The other foreign honorees are Cuba's Raul Castro Ruz, Tanzania's Salim Ahmed Salim, Russia's Galina Kulikova, France's Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Canada's Isabel Crook.
The selection process began earlier this year and nominations were open from Aug 27 to Sept 2.