Strengthening Relations between Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Information, Culture and the Arts

On Saturday 27 March 2010 from 4.30 to 5.45 p.m., Ambassador Nopadol Gunavibool and Team Thailand, comprising Capt. Sutheepong Kaewtab, Acting Defence and Naval Attache, Grp. Capt. Mana Prasopsri, Air Attache, and Mrs. Inthira Wuthsomboon, as well as other Embassy staff, welcomed Mr. Teera Slukpetch, Minister of Culture and Mrs. Somsuda Leyavanija, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and officials of the Culture Ministry, who were on transit in Singapore, at the Thai Residence.

During the working dinner, Ambassador Nopadol and Team Thailand briefed the Minister on various aspects of bilateral relations and informed the visitors of the reconstruction of the Royal Thai Embassy and the Thai Residence. He pointed out that the Embassy was looking for art works to be decorated at the new premises when they are completed in 2 years' time. Ambassador Nopadol also sought views of the Minister on how to implement the "Art in the Embassy" initiative, which aims at promoting new painters and artists by displaying their works on rotational basis  in Thai Embassy and Residence buildings around the world.

After the visit to the Thai Residence and the Embassy, the Minister of Culture and his party met with Mr. Michael Koh, Chief Operating Officer of the National Heritage Board (NHB), who reported to the Minister about the progress of the organization of "Thailand Year" in 2012, during which the NHB will organize a nation-wide exhibitions about history, art and culture of Thailand.  The Minister and his party also viewed the exhibits at the Asian Civilization Museum and took a stroll along the bank of Singapore River to observe the sculptures and momuments in the area. The Minister was particularly interested in how Singapore preserved old buildings and designed new ones to blend with old.

Ambassador Nopadol invited the Minister to pay an official visit to Singapore to forge the relationship between the Ministry of Culture and Singapore's Ministry of Information, Culture and the Arts and to observe how Singapore Government and the private sector transform Singapore into an arts hub of Asia.