Russia-Thailand: 125 years of friendship and cooperation

The year 2022 marks the 125th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Thailand. The relationship, spanning more than a century between our two nations, can be traced back to as early as the 1860s when two Russian Imperial Navy Pacific Squadron ships anchored in Chao Phraya River. The Russian sailors were later granted an audience with then King Mongkut of Siam (King Rama IV). The King handed over his message with name cards for Russian Emperor Alexander II. It marked the beginning of formal communication between the monarchs of Russia and Siam.

For a century thereafter, Russian vessels were more frequent visitors to Siam. With the growing knowledge of each other and between our societies, contacts between the two nations grew closer and paved the way for the visit to Siam in 1891 of Crown Prince Nicholas during his Eastern Journey. He was graciously received by King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V).

Russia and Siam signed the Treaty of Friendship and Maritime Navigation, establishing diplomatic relations, during the visit of King Chulalongkorn to St. Petersburg in July 1897, when the Thai King again met his Russian counterpart, Emperor Nicholas II. Later, the first Russian diplomatic mission in Bangkok held its grand opening in May 1898.

There were other significant events that united Russia and Thailand. Prince Chula Chakrabongse, the son of King Chulalongkorn, studied and graduated from the Russian Imperial Military Academy and married Russian lady Ekaterina Desnitskaya. In 1888, the Siam Royal Anthem music, the Kingdom’s official national anthem until 1932, was composed by Russian composer Pyotr Shshurovsky. In 1911, the delegation of the Russian Imperial House of Romanov onboard the Aurora Russian Imperial Navy Cruiser took part in the coronation ceremony of the King Vajiravudh (King Rama VI).

Despite the long break in official contacts between the two countries after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, it was a period when the systematic teaching of the language, culture and history of Thailand began in Russian higher educational institutions. In 1954, the first group of Thai language students commenced their studies at Moscow State Institute for International Relations under the direction of Lev Morev – author of the classic "Thai-Russian Dictionary”. Two years later, the Thai language was first taught at the Institute of Oriental Languages (now Institute of Asian and African Studies) of Lomonosov Moscow State University, and in 1961 at the Oriental Department of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) University.

Over the years, members of the Thai Royal Family repeatedly visited Russia, including Her Majesty Queen Mother Sirikit in 2007. In 2003, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid an official visit to Thailand. The leaders of the two countries also have met many times during multilateral events at various summits.

Today, Russia and Thailand enjoy constructive and mutually beneficial interaction through various multilateral mechanisms. Thailand is a long-standing and reliable partner of Russia. There are no political disputes on our agenda that could potentially hinder the development of our cooperation. Both sides appreciate active interaction, openness and willingness to further develop bilateral ties.

With the easing of Covid-19-related restrictions, the two nations resumed exchange of delegations. On May 21-22, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministerial Meeting on Trade in Bangkok. Contacts between our foreign ministers also remain consistent: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met his Thai counterpart, Don Pramudwinai, in Phnom Penh during ASEAN events on August 5 and in Moscow during a working visit on September 6.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand Don Pramudwinai on the sidelines of the ASEAN ministerial events in Phnom Penh on August 5. They paid special attention to holding cultural events in both countries to mark the 125th anniversary of Russia-Thailand diplomatic relations in 2022.

Bilateral trade and economic ties have now revived after suffering the negative effects of the pandemic. According to data from the Federal Customs Service of Russia, in 2021 Russia-Thailand trade volume reached US$2.3 billion (up 29 percent). Russian exports amounted to $494 million (up 40 percent) while imports from Thailand were worth $1.8 billion (up 26 percent). However, in the first half of 2022, trade dropped by 10 percent to $982 million, resulting from disruptions in the logistics chain and banking services.

There are good prospects for increasing cooperation in the energy and agro-industrial sectors. One is a multi-year project with Thailand's leading holding company, CP Group. It is a successful example of bilateral cooperation in investment and agriculture. The company's investment in the Russian agro-industrial complex is worth $1.8 billion totally. In November 2021, the chairman of CP Group, Soopakij  Chearavanont, was appointed as honorary consul of the Russian Federation in Chiang Mai with a consular district that includes Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son provinces. Russia now maintains Honorary Consulates in Pattaya and on Koh Samui as well as a General Consulate in Phuket.

Besides trade and economic cooperation in agriculture and food, other promising areas of cooperation are biology and space technologies, peaceful use of nuclear energy, shipbuilding, environmental protection, manufacture of construction materials and aviation as well as IT services and software solutions. Currently, Russian vaccines "Sputnik V" and "Sputnik Lite" are included in the list of vaccines granting the right for unimpeded entry to Thailand, which contributes to an increase in tourist flows.

Russia and Thailand maintain contacts on global international platforms and leading regional multilateral associations. Within the UN, our countries cooperate constructively on a wide range of issues on the global agenda. We coordinate approaches to various international and regional initiatives. We prioritize the central coordinating role of the UN and the promotion of its goals in full accordance with the UN Charter. We note the consonance of our positions on the current challenges to global stability. One of the recent manifestations of Thailand’s global clout as an influential representative of developing nations was the participation of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on June 23 in the High-Level Dialogue on Global Development in the “BRICS Plus” format.

In the context of Thailand's chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, we support the agenda promoted by Bangkok, including the concept of a “bio-circular-green economy” (BCG).

Here in Thailand, Russian foreign policy has another dimension related to multilateral diplomacy. As you know, Bangkok hosts the headquarters of the largest regional economic commission of the UN-ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific). For the Russian Federation, which has 77 percent of its territory in Asia, working in this UN format is a strategic priority.

The Russian Federation is making a significant expert contribution to developing strategies within ESCAP to enhance the sustainability of socio-economic infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region and to develop collective solutions to ensure the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030) approved by the United Nations. Our country assists interested states in the region in strengthening their capacities by implementing technical assistance projects in almost all sectoral areas of the Commission's activities – transport and energy, economy and statistics, environment and climate change, natural disasters, etc., through Russia’s voluntary contribution to the ESCAP budget. Over the entire period of the project cooperation between the Russian Federation and ESCAP, 54 projects have been implemented with a total funding of about $12.5 million.

In the cultural and humanitarian spheres, cooperation between Russia and Thailand is steadily developing. Every year, at least 50 candidates from Thailand are selected to study at Russian universities on Russian government scholarships. At present, Russian language programs are provided at Chulalongkorn, Thammasat and Ramkhamhaeng universities while about 10 secondary schools in Thailand have optional Russian language courses.

In 2021, Russia and Thailand held the first Forum of Rectors of both countries’ universities. Later in the same year, the two sides held the third Russian-Thai round table on the education of gifted children titled "Education in the Covid-19 pandemic: From crisis to new opportunities" under the auspices of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

H.E. Mr. Evgeny Tomikhin, Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand presided over an exhibition of kid’s drawings on the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Thailand at Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Center on July 8, 2022

On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a variety of events have been organized, starting with a contest for best logo for the anniversary year at the end of 2021.

In February 2022, the Moscow State Institute for International Relations of Russia’s Foreign Ministry and Thammasat University held a video conference on the history and current development of Russian-Thai relations.

Then in April a delegation of the Moscow Kremlin Museums, led by director-general Elena Gagarina, visited Thailand. They had meetings at the Ministry of Culture of Thailand as well as a number of museums and exhibition centres. The two sides agreed to hold the first-ever exhibition of art objects of Moscow Kremlin Museums in Bangkok.

One of the largest events to mark this special anniversary of diplomatic relations so far was the gala show "Russia-Thailand: 125 years of Friendship" held on June 5 at the National Theater in Bangkok. It featured performances of Russian and Thai dance groups, a presentation of Russian students on the history of Russian-Thai relations, an award ceremony for the winners of the contest for the best children's drawing on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of bilateral relations.

A gala show "Russia-Thailand: 125 years of Friendship" was held at the National Theatre to mark a milestone in diplomatic relations between the two countries on June 5, 2022. 

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai and H.E. Mr. Evgeny Tomikhin, the Ambassador of Russia to Thailand, are seen at a reception organized on July 4, 2022 by the Russian Embassy in Thailand on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.  

Mr. Don Pramudwinai viewed an art exhibition on July 4, 2022 about the 125-year relationship between Russia and Thailand

Recently in August, the Annual Festival of Thai Culture took place in Moscow. In September, as part of the Bangkok International Festival of Music and Dance, dancers from Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Musical Theatre as well as Alla Dukhova’s contemporary dance group “Todes", performed at the Thailand Cultural Center. Artists from the Igor Butman Jazz Ensemble were invited to perform here later this year. On the first weekend of December Bangkok will also host the first ever Russian Movie weekend.

Given the long years of friendship and cooperation between Russia and Thailand, we are convinced that the economic and geopolitical challenges that our countries are facing today are temporary and can certainly be overcome. Based on mutual trust between the leaders and peoples of our countries, the relations between Russia and Thailand have been strong for several generations and we are confident that they will continue to remain robust and have a bright future.

Source: Embassy of the Russia Federation