The Face of the Nation

His Majesty is a living symbol of Thailand, the Thai personage the world knows best. Well-established in the ranks of the world's Royalty, he has been honoured for his achievements by governments, organizations and universities around the globe. In the 1960s, His Majesty accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit travelled abroad to several countries in Asia, America, Europe as well as to Australia and New Zealand. He stated his reasons for going abroad in 1960 as follows: "This overseas visit is undertaken to serve the country. It is my duty as Head of State. It is common knowledge that during this period every country, big or small, must depend on one another. The peoples of every nationality are related. We should therefore know each other's characters and create mutual understanding. I shall show the people of those countries that the Thai people feel friendship for them. I shall try my utmost to let them know about Thailand and create goodwill towards Thai people." However, upon completing his trip to the United States and Canada in 1967, His Majesty has gone abroad only once in 1994 to the neighbouring Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Her Majesty the Queen once gave the following explanation: "His Majesty does not go abroad because he knows that Thailand is heading for danger. He would like to stay close to his subjects to help the poor." Throughout his reign, His Majesty has contributed immensely to the strengthening of Thailand’s relations with various countries and organizations – welcoming and receiving countless visiting foreign dignitaries and delegations. His rural development activities, including artificial rainmaking techniques and crop substitution projects, undertaken to improve the livelihood of his subjects throughout the kingdom, also served to inspire the kingdom’s diplomacy in its efforts to promote developmental cooperation with other countries in Asia and beyond, earning His Majesty much international recognition.

Countries Visited and State Visits

Countries Visited by Their Majesties
With his Queen by his side, His Majesty has been an honoured guest in these nations:

South Vietnam (The Republic of Vietnam) 18-21 December 1959 The Republic of Indonesia 8-16 February 1960 The Union of Burma (Myanmar) 2-5 March 1960 The United States of America 14 June- 15 July 1960 The United Kingdom 19-23 1960 The Federal Republic of Germany 25 July- 2 August 1960 The Republic of Portugal 22-25 August 1960 The Federation of Switzerland 29-31 August 1960 Denmark 6-9 September 1960 Norway 19-21 September 1960 Sweden 23-25 September 1960 The Republic of Italy 28 September- 1 October 1960 The Vatican State 1 October 1960 Belgium 4-7 October 1960 The Republic of France 11-14 October 1960 The Grand Dutchy of Luxembourg 17-19 October 1960 The Netherlands 24-27 October 1960 Spain 3-8 November 1960 The Islamic Republic of Pakistan 11-22 March 1962 The Federation of Malaya 20-27 June 1962 New Zealand 18-26 August 1962 Australia 26 August- 12 September 1962 Japan 27 May- 4 June 1963 Taiwan 5-8 June 1963 The Republic of the Philippines 9-14 July 1963 The Republic of Austria 29 September- 5 October 1964 The Federal Republic of Germany 22-28 August 1966 The Republic of Austria 29 September- 2 October 1966 Iran 23-30 April 1967 The United States of America 6-20 June  and 24-29 June 1967 Canada 21-24 June 1967 The Lao People's Democratic Republic 8-9 April 1994

International Recognition

is Majesty has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards for his lifelong work. He has also received honorary degrees from some of the world's most renowned universities. Among the recent accolades for His Majesty came from the US Congress in its concurrent resolutions by the House of Representatives and the Senate in 2008 marking the 80th birthday anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej as well as the 175th anniversary of the commencement of the diplomatic relations between the United States and Thailand:

110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. CON. RES. 66

________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas 2008 marks the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand in 1833, during President Andrew Jackson's administration and the reign of King Rama III, and the commencement of the relationship between the 2 countries; Whereas Thailand was the first treaty ally of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region and remains a steadfast friend with shared values of freedom, democracy, and liberty; Whereas in December 2003, the United States designated Thailand as a major ally outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which improved the security of both countries, particularly by facilitating joint counterterrorism efforts; Whereas for more than a quarter century, Thailand has been the host country of Cobra Gold, the United States Pacific Command's annual multinational military training exercise, designed to ensure regional peace and promote regional security cooperation; Whereas in the wake of the tragic 2004 tsunami, the United States and Thailand launched joint relief operations from Utapao, Thailand, strengthening the overall capacity of the forces involved in providing relief and setting the model for effective humanitarian operations throughout the entire region affected by the deadly tsunami; Whereas Thailand is a key partner of the United States in Southeast Asia and has supported closer relations between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; Whereas on June 22, 2006, Congress agreed to House Concurrent Resolution 409, 109th Congress, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand; Whereas on December 5, 2007, the people of Thailand celebrated the 80th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-serving monarch, who is loved and respected for his lifelong dedication to the social and economic development of the people of Thailand; Whereas on December 23, 2007, the Royal Thai Government held nationwide parliamentary elections that are paving the way for a successful return of democracy to Thailand; Whereas approximately 500,000 people of Thai descent live in the United States, joining in the pursuit of the American Dream; Whereas Thailand is the 20th largest trading partner of the United States, with bilateral trade totaling approximately $30,600,000,000 per year; and Whereas the bonds of friendship and mutual respect between the United States and Thailand are strong: Now, therefore, be it

Passed the Senate March 10, 2008.

Note: The concurrent resolution by the House of Representative (H. CON. RES. 290) was passed on 11 March 2008. In addition, His Majesty was also honoured by international organizations such as the United Nations, which presented to him the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s first ever Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award in May 2006, and the World Intellectual Property Organization, which presented him with the first WIPO Global Leader Award in January 2009.

CITATION

"Your Majesty,

The United Nations is honoured to present to Your Majesty the United Nations Development Programme's First Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award. We do this on the Auspicious Occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary of Your Majesty's Accession to the Throne.

Your Majesty has made an extraordinary contribution to human development. As the world's Development King". Your Majesty has reached out to the poorest and the most vulnerable people of Thailand-regardless of their status, ethnicity or religion-listened to their problems, and empowered them to take their livers in their own hands.

Your Majesty's countless rural development projects have been at the forefront of innovation and benefited millions of people across Thailand. They have promoted small-scale agriculture, appropriate farming technologies, sustainable use of water resources, conservation, and flood and drought mitigation.

As a visionary thinker, Your Majesty has played an invaluable role in shaping the global development dialogue, Your Majesty's "Sufficiency Economy" philosophy-emphasizing moderation, responsible consumption, and resilience to external shocks-is of great relevance worldwide during these times of rapid globalization. It reinforces the United Nation's efforts to promote a people-centred and sustainable path of development.

With this Award, we hope to further promote the invaluable experiences and lessons learnt from Your Majesty's development endeavour's and help draw attention to Your Majesty's visionary thinking beyond the borders of the Kingdom of Thailand. It is our greatest honour and privilege to Your Majesty this Lifetime Human Development Award."

CITATION

“The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is deeply honored to present to Your Majesty the WIPO Global Leader Award.

Your Majesty has made an outstanding contribution towards spreading the message of the powerful role intellectual property can play in development, both in Thailand and abroad. In engaging personally in the creation of innovative and artistic works, which are protected as intellectual property, Your Majesty has inspired others also to innovate and create.

In sharing the fruits of your creativity in the form of inventions and musical and artistic works, Your Majesty has not only demonstrated the power of intellectual property to enrich and enhance the quality of daily life and work but has also encouraged people everywhere to create, respect and protect it. Through Your Majesty’s shining example, Thailand has taken its place among the world’s knowledge-based societies.

The numerous royal projects judiciously applying Your Majesty’s inventions have brought immense benefits, in particular to the rural communities of Thailand. Your Majesty’s inventions, such as, the water-aerator and artificial rainmaking technology, have provided solutions to practical problems that have had a direct impact on improving the lives of millions of Your Majesty’s subjects.

On behalf of the international intellectual property community, WIPO salutes and pays tribute to Your Majesty’s extraordinary contribution to the cause of intellectual property.

It is a unique privilege and a great honor for me to present Your majesty with the first WIPO Global Leader Award, in tribute to the inspiring example Your Majesty has set in using the intellectual property system to encourage and protect creativity and innovation.”

List of Awards Presented by Foreign Institutions and Organizations to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand