On 26 January 2018, H.E. Mr. Manasvi Srisodapol, Ambassador of Thailand to Belgium, hosted a luncheon for “Friends of Thailand” on the occasion of the new year 2018, which coincides with the 150th Anniversary of Friendship between Belgium and Thailand.
The guests included Mr. Pol De Witte, Secretary General of the Royal Palace of Belgium and Mr. Pierre Cartuyvels, Diplomatic Adviser to HM King Philippe of the Belgians. From the Belgian parliament, the Hon. Mr. Georges Dallemagne, Chairman of Belgian-Thai bilateral section of the Belgian Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). From the diplomatic side, three former Ambassadors of Belgium to Thailand, namely Mr. Pierre Vaesen, Mr. Rudi Veestraeten and Mr. Marc Michelsen, as well as Ms. Regine Vandriessche, Director of Asia and Oceania, Belgian Federal Public Services of Foreign Affairs.
In his remarks, Ambassador Manasvi praised the contribution of distinguished Friends of Thailand to longstanding relations between Thailand and Belgium. He described the relationship as “strong and enduring”, as evident in its 150th anniversary this year.
Mr. Pierre Vaesen, who served as Ambassador of Belgium to Thailand between 2000 – 2004, took this occasion to present valuable personal mementos from his assignment in Thailand, among them signed royal portraits of HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej with HM Queen Sirikit, and a model of the Chaipattana Aerator set (a working machine was presented to Belgium by HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2003 and is now at the Etangs Mallaerts in Woluwe-St Pierre). Ambassador Manasvi accepted these valuable mementos on behalf of the Embassy and expressed his appreciation to Ambassador Vaesen for his generosity; the items will be put on prominent display at the Royal Thai Embassy.
