BANGKOK, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- A China-Thailand women's ice hockey friendly will be held in Bangkok on October 6 to further deepen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua will watch the match, and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana will personally lead the Thai women's national ice hockey team in the competition, said Sorawong Thienthong, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, at a press conference on Monday.
The friendly match is co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Thailand and Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand next year.
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and vice president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, said the friendly match would serve as an important bridge in sports and cultural exchanges between Thailand and China, and to promote cooperation and friendly relations in these fields between the two countries.
Han Zhiqiang, the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, said the friendly match aims to continue the special friendship between China and Thailand, which is as close as one family, and promote the spirit of sports.
Han said that sports exchanges have promoted friendship between China and Thailand and are considered a valuable tradition in China-Thailand relations, pointing out that on the eve of the official establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand in 1975, the two countries sent badminton delegation to visit each other, creating a favorable social atmosphere for the establishment of diplomatic ties.
The friendly match will take place at the Thailand International Ice Hockey Arena in Bangkok. ■
