During 19-20 January 2010, Mr. Surapit Kirtiputra, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, led a group of Foreign Ministry’s officials to visit Mukdahan Province and Savannakhet, where the 2nd Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Lao PDR is located. The trip was an activity under the “Roving Bua Kaew” programme to exchange views with local agencies on issues related to foreign affairs and to visit the schools participating in the “Young Ambassadors of Virtue School’ project in the area.
On 19 January 2010, Deputy Permanent Secretary Surapit and the accompanying delegation met with Dr. Sommai Prijasilpa, Vice Governor of Mukdahan Province, and representatives of other related provincial agencies to exchange views on the relationship with neighbouring country in various aspects, particularly border trade which has been benefited from the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) connecting land transportation between Myanmar-Thailand-Lao PDR-Vietnam. In the afternoon, the group visited Ban Na Po Yai - Khok Suwan School which is under the ‘Young Ambassadors of Virtue School’ project and presented the school with educational materials and financial contribution.
On 20 January 2010, the delegation visited Somboun Primary School, Ban Houa Meuang Neua, in Savannakhet, Lao PDR, to provide the school with educational materials. The delegation also met three students from other primary schools in Savannakhet who were awardees of the 2009 Young Ambassadors of Virtue School’s painting contest that provided opportunity for students from nearby districts of the neighboring countries to participate in the contest.
“Roving Bua Kaew” is a project carried out continually under the Foreign Ministry’s public diplomacy programme. The project aims to provide an opportunity for senior Foreign Ministry officials to come into direct contact with regional authorities and local populace. The Foreign Ministry has been working with the Ministry of Education to run the “Young Ambassadors of Virtue School” project since 1999.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th