President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, May 21, accepted the credentials of Thailand’s Ambassador to the Philippines Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng in a ceremony held at the Malacañan Palace.

In his remarks, President Duterte congratulated the ambassador on his first ambassadorial assignment for the Kingdom of Thailand and expressed his elation over the Palace meeting with the Thai official.

“I’m sure that you would learn so many things along the way. You won’t have a hard time. We are similar in all things including our desire to have a peaceful southeast Pacific region. Welcome,” the President told Ambassador Ruangprateepsaeng.

Also during the event, Ambassador Ruangprateepsaeng presented to President Duterte his letter of credence as well as the letter of recall of his predecessor.

Prior to his posting to the Philippines, Ambassador Ruangprateepsaeng was the Consul-General of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Guangzhou, China in 2016.

He was also the Chief of the Secretariat to the Department of European Affairs; Seconded to Office of the Minister in 2011. In 2012, he served as Minister of the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra, Australia.

Accompanying the ambassador were his spouse, Sirintra Ruangprateepsaeng; Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission, Urawadee Sriphiromya; Counsellor and Consul Pachongwat Yuckpan; Counsellor and Vice Consul Rathanand Vichaidit; First Secretary Thassarany Noivong, and First Secretary Aditat Panupong. PND