On 19-21 February 2024, Charge d’affaires a.i. Dr Jean-Pierre Verbiest participated to a study visit to the Chiang Rai province organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. About 60 heads of Diplomatic Missions and spouses participated. The visit was welcome by the Governor of the Chiang Rai province. A community learning center applying the (King Rama IX) Sufficiency Economy Philosophy was visited on the first day. It comprised a large community cooperating on the restoration of soil, water and forests and developing a sustainable self-reliant life. This was followed by a visit to a community which manages a forest in an area previously deforested, and which could now earn an income from selling carbon credit.
On the second day, we visited the Doi Tung’s Sustainable Alternative Livelihood Development Project of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage (since 1969). The project basically transformed a large completely deforested and opium growing area where Minority Hill Communities lived, by working with them to restore forests and promote local arts and culture, and improve economic and social life.
On the third day, the Minister of Culture hosted the visit and organized several site visits to an international contemporary art exhibition entitled “Thailand Biennale”, the third one in Thailand hosted by Chiang Rai. The theme of the Biennale is “The Open World”.