Message by
HE Mr Moustapha El Kouny
Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Kingdom of Thailand
The history of Egypt is inextricably linked to the Nile. Back in prehistory the savanna lands of the Sahara desert began to dry up. Forcing the region’s nomadic populations to gradually migrate towards the river. Its ever fertile banks gave birth to the world’s first nation state.
It also spawned some of the most important achievements in human history. Since Egypt was the place where writing was invented, the first stone monuments erected and an entire culture set in place that would remain largely unchanged for thousands of years. All of this was made possible by the regular rhythms of the river and, in contrast to the vast areas of barren desert known as desert (red land), the narrow banks of the Nile river known as Kemet (the black land), after the rich sit deposited by the annual folds.
The National Day of Egypt is celebrated on July 23 which coincides with the annual celebration of the Egyptian revolution of 1952 when the modern republic of Egypt was declared. Ending the period of the Kingdom of Egypt, and marks big society, cultural and political changes as the end of the monarchy and the start of a republic. Which leads to a new period of modernisation and socialist reform in Egypt, along with a staunch advocacy of pan-Arab nationalism, and developing world solidarity.
The era witnessed a rapid increase in living standards unparalleled in Egypt’s millennia of history, and is regarded as a time when ordinary Egyptian citizens enjoyed unprecedented access to housing, education, employment, healthcare, and nourishment, as well as other forms of social welfare. The national economy grew significantly through agrarian reform and major modernisation projects.
On this occasion, I would like to stress our mutual interest to enhance the historical, prospering relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Thailand, as Egypt was the first African and Arab country that has launched diplomatic relations with Thailand in 1954, and since that time, both countries have enjoyed long and outstanding relations.
This year we are commemorating the 68th anniversary of this relation. In this regard, I would like to underline the will to enhance the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation between our two countries in various fields including socio-economic, investment and cultural fields, in which the both sides will spare no efforts to ensure that the relation between our two countries reaches a new height of prosperity and flourishment.
Furthermore, we emphasise the importance of enhancing the bilateral cultural cooperation, which represents another vital pillar of our relationship, including the role of Al Azhar Al Sherif institution, to spread moderate Islam in Muslim Societies and enhancing the integration of his future graduate students back in their societies. We would like to commend on Thailand’s participation in the annual scholarships provided by Al Azhar Al Sherif to the Thai students, which has been increased from 144 to 160 scholarships in the academic year 2022/2023. This comes also in parallel with the increasing number of Thai students to study in Egyptian university annually.
I would like as well to take this opportunity to congratulate the Egyptian community in Thailand for the celebration of their National Day, and to reiterate our support to enhance the excellentrelations of friendship and cooperation between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Thailand in various fields, wishing for the people of the two friendly countries all kind of success, progress and stability.
