Bangkok, August 17th, 2011--A keynote lecture entitled "A Visit to the Nation of the Dragon" in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Princess Sirindhorn's visit to China & inauguration ceremony for the Chinese Culture Experience Center of the Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University was solemnly held at the Book and Resource Center of the university. A total of more than 170 guests including Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Mr. Guan Mu, the President of Chulalongkorn University Prof. Pirom Kamolratanakul as well as teachers and students from Chinese departments of various colleges and universities in Thailand, the teachers and students from Confucius Institute and people from all walks of life were present at the event.

On May 12th 1981, Princess Sirindhorn made her first visit to China, becoming the first member of the Thai royal family to visit China. Since then, the Princess has visited China 33 times in the past 30 years, greatly promoting the development of the friendly relationship between Thailand and China and making important contributions to the promotion of Chinese language in Thailand. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Princess Sirindhorn's visit to China and to commemorate her contributions to the development of the Sino-Thai relationship and the promotion of Chinese language, the Confucius Institute carried out the celebration and invited Princess Sirindhorn to give keynote speech.

At 9:00 a.m. on the 17th, Princess Sirindhorn arrived at the Center on the 7th floor and announced the beginning of the event. President Prof. Pirom Kamolratanakul, Ambassador Mr. Guan Mu and the representative of Peking University President each gave their own speeches. Afterward, Princess Sirindhorn delivered a keynote speech. During the one-hour speech, the Princess reviewed highlights of her visits to China over the past 30 years in a humorous way, presenting the audience with China's 30 years of development. The audience was intoxicated by the captivating speech. After the speech, Princess Sirindhorn, together with other guests, visited the "picture exhibition featuring the 30th anniversary of Princess Sirindhorn's visit to China".

After visiting the exhibition which was held on the 7th floor, Princess Sirindhorn and other guests came down to unveil the Institute's Chinese Culture Experience Center on the 3rd floor. Accompanied by the Institute's Chinese Director Prof. Fu Zengyou, the Princess visited the experience center and completed a piece of calligraphic work, reading "Zhongguo Wenhua Yuanyuan Liuchang (Chinese culture has a very long history)".

Since her first visit to China 30 years ago, Princess Sirindhorn has not only committed herself to the development of the exchanges between Chinese and Thai cultures, but has also paid close attention to the promotion of Chinese language in Thailand and the development of the Confucius Institute. She also attended the unveiling ceremony of the Institute.