Int'l boat festival to be organized in Thailand to mark 50-year ASEAN

CHON BURI, THAILAND, November 9 (TNA) - Thailand will organize an international boat festival in the eastern region later this month, marking the auspicious occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Accompanied by senior navy officers, Thai Navy Chief Admiral Naris Prathumsuwan on Thursday inspected areas where the international boat festival, hosted by the Royal Thai Navy, will be held on November 20 and follow up preparations for the forthcoming event. Apart from inspecting the targeted areas, including the Chuk Samet Pier in the Sattahip Navy Base, the Royal Thai Naval Air Division, the Pattaya Bay and the Dusit Thani Hotel Pattaya in Chon Buri Province in the Thai East, the navy commander-in-chief also board HTMS Thalang, the leading ship of a marine parade to be organized as part of the upcoming international boat festival, during a virtual, but all ships anchored, rehearsal of the naval parade. According to the Royal Thai Navy, the HTMS Thalang will be used as the leading ship of its upcoming marine parade because the made-in-Thailand warship has actively participated in both domestic and external missions within the 10-member bloc ASEAN, especially in offshore anti-mines operations. The Royal Thai Navy stated that its policy on having the HTMS Thalang built in Thailand complies with late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's advice on self-reliance and the Sufficiency Economy Principle. Besides, the locally-developed warship also manifests the capability of Thailand's ship building industry and the potential of the Royal Thai Navy. (TNA)