On 4 December 2012, H.E. Mr. Rathakit Manathat, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of Turkey, hosted a dinner reception at Sheraton Hotel, Ankara to celebrate the 85^th Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The occasion was honored by H.E. Mr. İsmet Yılmaz, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Turkey, representing the Government of Turkey, who together with H.E. the Ambassador of Thailand proposed a toast to the good health and happiness of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of the Kingdom of Thailand and to the long lasting friendship between the two countries and peoples.

Among the almost 300 guests attending the reception were foreign ambassadors, high level officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, prominent Turkish business people, Chairman and members of the Turkey – Thailand Business Council, Turkish academics, President of the Thai Students Association in Turkey, local media as well as the Thai community and students in Ankara and its vicinity.

The reception commenced with the candle-lit ceremony led by H.E. the Ambassador to pay the tribute to His Majesty the King which was well attended by the Thai community. The reception featured Thai food and fruit carving demonstration which attracted great interest from the guests and the media. The exhibitions of His Majesty the King’s role in enhancing the well-being of the Thai people drew great interest from the participating guests.