Chittipat Tongprasroeth, Royal Thai Embassy

Article published in the infoletter August 2024.

As the Thai Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation, the Principality of Liechtenstein, and the Holy See, my core responsibility is to effectively represent the political, economic and social interests of Thailand and to protect the welfare of the approximately 30,000 Thais living in Switzerland, many of whom hold dual citizenship.

Given the considerable size of the Thai community here, we have the privilege of working with more than 20 Thai clubs and associations throughout Switzerland that are involved in volunteer work. They often dedicate their free time to helping other Thais settle in and integrate seamlessly into Swiss society, as well as teaching the Thai language and culture to the new Thai-Swiss generation. Their admirable work is a real asset for the well-being of the Thai community and for the preservation of Thai culture and heritage. In my eyes, they are the true ambassadors here and I am happy to work with them.

I have to talk about an event that is already in the past, but my highlight is the annual Thai Festival, which brings Thailand closer to the Swiss and expats. The continued success of our flagship event led us to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Thai Festival this year. The Festival attracts around 7,000-10,000 people from all over the country. Visitors were able to experience various aspects of Thai culture, including Thai cuisine, cultural performances, Muay Thai (Thai boxing) demonstrations and Nuad Thai (Thai massage),

Another project I am thrilled to work on with other embassies of Asian and Pacific countries (ASPAG) is a film festival to be held in January/February 2025. We hope that these films will appeal to a wide audience and showcase our diverse cultures.

I often say that the best way to judge the living conditions of the locals is to observe how people commute and what the daily traffic is like. I am amazed that here in Bern all types of vehicles – trams, buses, cars, scooters and bicycles – travel smoothly and harmoniously on the same road.

It is also incredible how well the transport network is designed to be connected, both in terms of time management or physical infrastructure. My wife and I very much enjoy the punctuality and predictability of using Bernmobil services when we travel to Bern outside working hours.

What really impressed me here is the way the Swiss have brought to light the “Knowledge Sharing” concept. In Bern, and probably in other parts of Switzerland too, there are public bookcases (“Bücherschränke”) where people make books they no longer need available to others in order to pass on and share their knowledge. This creates a society of give and take, which I find admirable.

Sea, sand and sun are probably what I miss the most. Thailand is known for having some of the best beaches in the world, with stunning white sand and crystal clear waters. But Switzerland also has stunning water resources to offer, such as Lake Thun or the River Aare in the city of Bern.

What I particularly like about Bern is the balance between tranquillity and vibrancy. Younger generations may disagree with me. Coming from Bangkok, where life pulsates day and night, Bern is of course a quieter and more peaceful city. Nevertheless, Bern offers a variety of exciting outdoor activities all year round.

Some of the highlights I enjoy are the annual Zibelemärit (onion market) in November, the most famous music festival in Switzerland, the “Gurtenfestival”, and of course our Thai festival, which we are very proud of!

It is certainly the beloved Bernese mountain peak Gurten. As my home is close to the middle station of the cable car, my insider tip is the circular route that leads from Grünenboden up to the summit (Gurten Kulm), past Gurtendorf and Spiegel back to the middle station. From this circular trail you have a wonderful panoramic view of the famous peaks of the Bernese Oberland, the airport, the Bundeshaus, Bern's old town and the Jura mountains. The entire trail is around five kilometres long and, with a bit of luck, amazing wildlife such as deer, foxes and many bird species can be observed.

Since I arrived in Bern, I have fallen in love with various Swiss products. My favourite is “Rivella”, an orange-coloured soft drink with milk whey as one of its unique ingredients. Now even a vegan version has been developed (yellow label), although I am still a fan of the original red Rivella. I love the refreshing flavour and hope that the manufacturer will consider exporting the drink to other Asian countries, especially Thailand!

Actually, it is mainly Swiss personality traits that are deeply rooted in the Swiss upbringing that impress me. There are three key elements that stand out for me:

• Respect for the Law

• Self-discipline

• Love/Passion of Nature

These traits not only distinguish the Swiss from others but also contribute to the harmonious society and satisfaction in the quality of life in the country.

Claudia FONSECA BUZZI, Ambassador of Brazil (the portrait will be published in the next infoletter).

Discover the interesting personalities who enrich our federal city.