Bangkok--Jun 5--MFA
Welcoming Remarks by H.E. Mr. Noppadon Pattama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, at the Informal Dinner in honour of the delegates to The Fourth Asia-Europe Meeting Interfaith Dialogue De Duif Church, Amsterdam, 3 June 2008
Mr. Job Cohen, Mayor of Amsterdam,
Distinguished Delegates and Participants attending the Fourth ASEM Interfaith Dialogue,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to tonight’s informal dinner, which Thailand is delighted to host in your honour, here in one of the most beautiful places in Amsterdam.
This historic church, De Duif (เดอ เดิฟ), which means “the dove” in English, is indeed a suitable venue for our gathering — with a white dove generally regarded as a symbol of peace. It fits with the purpose of our being here in this process of Interfaith Dialogue: to promote peace through mutual respect and understanding among peoples of different faiths and beliefs.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have learnt that today many of you had the opportunity to explore Amsterdam. That’s something which I missed, having just arrived from London a few hours ago. But still, I am grateful that our Host had kindly arranged a very interesting programme with canal tour and briefings for all of you to get better acquainted with this lovely yet vibrant city.
I was told that this afternoon’s visit to several community projects was particularly inspiring. It illustrates how people of different faiths can live together in peace as a community. In Thailand, we also have a number of similar projects aimed at cultivating intercultural and interfaith understanding.
Thailand is therefore pleased to be part of this Dialogue between Asia and Europe and to share with you our views and experiences.
I believe that, by getting together — exchanging ideas and working on what we can do — each and every one of us will help move forward the common cause of interfaith dialogue — to promote mutual respect and appreciation, to remove and overcome differences among religions, faiths and cultures.
So, let us begin our dialogue with the delights of Thai cuisine and cultural performances in this magnificent hall. This exquisite Thai cuisine is itself a mixture of the best tastes of several spices and herbs blended into smooth and harmonious fusion by Thai cooks — to make it distinctively Thai. I therefore hope tonight’s dinner will help energize you to get into action tomorrow.
Distinguished Delegates and Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
May I now invite all of you to join me in a toast for the good health of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and to thank the Government of the Netherlands, and the City of Amsterdam for their warm hospitality.
Let us work together to make the Fourth ASEM Interfaith Dialogue a success and serve its noble objectives and principles in the years to come.
Cheers!
Thank you.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-
Welcoming Remarks by H.E. Mr. Noppadon Pattama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, at the Informal Dinner in honour of the delegates to The Fourth Asia-Europe Meeting Interfaith Dialogue De Duif Church, Amsterdam, 3 June 2008
Mr. Job Cohen, Mayor of Amsterdam,
Distinguished Delegates and Participants attending the Fourth ASEM Interfaith Dialogue,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to tonight’s informal dinner, which Thailand is delighted to host in your honour, here in one of the most beautiful places in Amsterdam.
This historic church, De Duif (เดอ เดิฟ), which means “the dove” in English, is indeed a suitable venue for our gathering — with a white dove generally regarded as a symbol of peace. It fits with the purpose of our being here in this process of Interfaith Dialogue: to promote peace through mutual respect and understanding among peoples of different faiths and beliefs.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have learnt that today many of you had the opportunity to explore Amsterdam. That’s something which I missed, having just arrived from London a few hours ago. But still, I am grateful that our Host had kindly arranged a very interesting programme with canal tour and briefings for all of you to get better acquainted with this lovely yet vibrant city.
I was told that this afternoon’s visit to several community projects was particularly inspiring. It illustrates how people of different faiths can live together in peace as a community. In Thailand, we also have a number of similar projects aimed at cultivating intercultural and interfaith understanding.
Thailand is therefore pleased to be part of this Dialogue between Asia and Europe and to share with you our views and experiences.
I believe that, by getting together — exchanging ideas and working on what we can do — each and every one of us will help move forward the common cause of interfaith dialogue — to promote mutual respect and appreciation, to remove and overcome differences among religions, faiths and cultures.
So, let us begin our dialogue with the delights of Thai cuisine and cultural performances in this magnificent hall. This exquisite Thai cuisine is itself a mixture of the best tastes of several spices and herbs blended into smooth and harmonious fusion by Thai cooks — to make it distinctively Thai. I therefore hope tonight’s dinner will help energize you to get into action tomorrow.
Distinguished Delegates and Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
May I now invite all of you to join me in a toast for the good health of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and to thank the Government of the Netherlands, and the City of Amsterdam for their warm hospitality.
Let us work together to make the Fourth ASEM Interfaith Dialogue a success and serve its noble objectives and principles in the years to come.
Cheers!
Thank you.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-