A letter of condolence written by Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was recently sent to Changsha, and delivered to Ms. Deng Ze, wife of deceased academician Yuan Longping, by Mongkol Visitstump, consul-general of Thailand in Kunming. In her letter, Princess Sirindhorn expressed deep condolences over Yuan Longping’s passing, saying, “Academician Yuan Longping's research has benefited mankind, and his passing is a great loss to the scientific community."

Consul-general Mongkol Visitstump hands over the letter of condolence to Ms. Deng Ze, wife of deceased scientist Yuan Longping. (Photo/Xiao Yali, Changsha Evening News)

Princess Sirindhorn was born in April 1955, the second daughter of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Mother Sirikit of Thailand. She is very much loved by the Thai people because she cares deeply about the sufferings of the people.

“The brotherhood between China and Thailand lasts forever." Princess Sirindhorn has been making her best to interpret this line written by herself. China and Thailand established diplomatic ties in 1975. Princess Sirindhorn came to China for the first time in May 1981. By 2019, Princess Sirindhorn had paid 48 visits to China to promote Thailand-China friendly cooperation in various fields including culture and education.

The presentation ceremony for national medals and honorary titles was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 29, 2019. Princess Sirindhorn was presented the Medal of Friendship by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

In her letter, Princess Sirindhorn recalled her deep friendship with Academician Yuan Longping. In 2004, Princess Sirindhorn presented the Golden Sickle Award to Yuan Longping in Bangkok on behalf of her father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in recognition of Yuan Longping’s outstanding contributions to rice breeding. She also visited Yuan Longping's experimental base in Hunan Province and met him again at the presentation ceremony of the Medal of the Republic and the Medal of Friendship.

Upon hearing the news of the passing of Academician Yuan Longping on May 22, 2021, Princess Sirindhorn sent a wreath at the farewell ceremony of Academician Yuan Longping to offer her condolences, and requested Consul-general Mongkol Visitstump to deliver her handwritten letter of sympathy to Ms. Deng Ze, wife of Academician Yuan Longping.

Recently, accompanied by the person in charge of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Changsha Municipal People’s Government, Consul-general Mongkol Visitstump and his entourage made a special trip to present the original letter of condolence to Ms. Deng Ze. They also visited the Longping Rice Museum to admire Academician Yuan Longping’s life story and the achievements in the development of hybrid rice. Consul-general Mongkol Visitstump said that Thailand and China are intimate and friendly neighbors with a long history of friendship. Changsha has frequent exchanges with Thailand, and the bilateral cooperation has been developing vigorously. He hoped that the two sides will continue to deepen friendly exchanges and jointly write a new chapter of win-win cooperation.

Source: en.changsha.gov.cn