Bangkok: Maris' teams up with Bodhgaya Institute to send athletes to compete to strengthen Thai-Cambodian relations, instilling a sense of the new generation to use Dharma to create peace, pointing out that society lives together, has a shared culture, and no one owns it. Mr. Maris Sengiampong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave an interview about his visit to Cambodia this time, at the invitation of Mr. Prak Sokhon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, to co-chair a friendly football match. The first match was a Thai boxer versus a Kun Khmer boxer, and the second match was a team of Thai-Cambodian all-star influencers to strengthen relations in the public sector, including celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, with support from Bodhgaya Institute 980 and the Viraphuchong Foundation.
According to Thai News Agency, the relationship between the two countries is already excellent, but the goal is to promote it to be deeply rooted in the public sector, focusing on the young generation. Mr. Maris emphasized the importance of teaching the young generation to live together peacefully. He continued by stating that another goal of this activity is to integrate the principles of Buddhism, where the new generation representative teams from both countries were trained to understand these principles to build love and unity.
Mr. Supachai Wiraphuchong, Secretary-General of Bodhikaya Institute 980, highlighted that historically, people from the five countries in the Mekong River Basin lived together without borders, encompassing all nations and religions with humanity, understanding, and trust, based on Dharma. He expressed a desire to see a return to these values through the creation of a century of Dharma for the new generation. The initiative officially kicked off during the 4th Dharma Yatra activity, aiming to delve deeper into societal levels through a football match to commemorate the 75th anniversary of relations with Cambodia.
Addressing the issue of cultural ownership, Mr. Supachai referred to the past conflicts over boxing heritage, emphasizing that this knowledge is not the property of any single nation but a shared cultural belief created by ancestors. He stressed the importance of teaching the younger generation to understand their origins and reduce ego, adhering to the principles of Dharma, particularly Anatta, as taught by the Lord Buddha.
Dr. Supachai further stated that the competition results would not determine the winner, as the trophy is meant for all four teams. He conveyed confidence in the project's goals, highlighting the importance of faith, mindfulness, sacrifice, and wisdom. He urged for a return to prosperity and greatness without conflict, asserting that the project's success could serve as a model for global governance through Dharma.