King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u arrive at a luncheon hosted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, Thailand. 14 October, 2013

Tonga’s King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u visited Bangkok, Thailand, last week, where they attended a number of engagements, including meeting the Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss closer bilateral relations.

The Minister HE Dr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul hosted a lunch for the king and queen on October 14, at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel. Exchanges focused on fostering the close bilateral ties between Tonga and Thailand.

They also met with hotelier Mr. Chanin Donavanik the CEO and Managing Director of the Dusit International Group of Bangkok and his wife Khun Vipada on October 16.

Tongan Malia Sosefo (Tae) Guttenbeil of Vava’u who was in Bangkok to receive a model farmers award for outstanding achievement in agriculture and food production at the FAO World Food Day on October 16, also met the king and queen. Tae was one of four honourees recognised at a ceremony on October 16, at the FAO Regional office where Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presented the awards to winners from Bhutan, the Philippines, Tonga and Thailand.

Dr Vili Fuavao a Deputy Director at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific met the king and provided an overview of agricultural issues relevant to Tonga, including the organization's ongoing and recent assistance and the establishment of an FAO office in Nukualofa.

The Tonga Prime Minister's Office in a statment said that the king and queen, who arrived in Bangkok on October 12, were expected to return to Tonga next week, after completing a visit to Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand.