Privy Council delegation calls Thai foreign minister

New Delhi, April 30, 2009: Recently nominated chairman of the Royal Privy Council Chenkyab Dorji along with three members of the council called on Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Wednesday. 

Privy Coulcil Chairman Chenkyab Dorji

The council delegation is currently in Thailand on a familiarization tour and seeking assistance to a royal project to protect Drukpa Kagyu sub-sect of Buddhism.

Speaking at the welcome function organized by Kasit, Dorji said in addition to familiarizing themselves with that kingdom, the Privy Council of Bhutan wished to learn more about the Privy Council of Thailand. 

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit briefed them on the history of the Thai Privy Council and its role advising the king of Thailand for over a century. Both sides praised the excellent relations between the two kingdoms and their similarities as Buddhist and democratic constitutional monarchies that have never been colonized. 

Dorij sought Thailand’s assistance for ‘Dharma Project’, an initiative by King Jigme Khesar, to help preserve religious statues and artifacts in Bhutan, particularly through Thailand’s support on technology and expertise in bronze casting. 

In response, Kasit expressed Thailand’s support to the project and said that the relevant Thai authorities would be in touch with Bhutan. He also said that his country is interested in collaborating on herbal medicine, to which Dorji agreed.

Dorji, who retired as the secretary general of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), also had served as Bhutanese envoy to Thailand between 1999 and 2005.