Chinese New Year festivities in Thailand to be highlighted with celebrations of Thai princess birthday

Chinese Thai citizens in the heart of Bangkok plan to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year and Her Royal Highness Princess Chakri Sirindhorn is scheduled to attend the festival.

During Friday's public address broadcast on the radio nationwide, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the residents of Chinese descents in Yaovarat area, also known as China Town, will organize a very special event on February 19 to celebrate the 60th birthday of the princess.

The Thai princess will be 60 years old on April 2.

"HRH Princess Chakri Sirindhorn is highly respected and beloved not only by the people in Thailand but also by those in China," said Gen Prayut.

This year's Chinese New Year festivities in China Town, where the princess has visited yearly, will be highlighted with the planned celebrations of her birthday, according to the prime minister.

China Town is situated next to the so-called Rattanakosin Island where a large number of foreign tourists visit and stay.

Most of the Yaovarat residents have engaged in wholesale and retail businesses daily since the time of King Rama V the Great over a century ago.

The area which is usually heavily congested will be cleared of auto traffic during the planned celebrations on February 19.

Meanwhile, Thailand plans to promote Muay Thai, originally known as the Thai kick-boxing, as a national martial art alongside other tourism campaigns throughout this year, the prime minister said.

Foreigners who may have viewed Muay Thai bouts anywhere will not only be taught to fight in style of the Thai martial art, but also learn how to pay homage just before a bout kicks off, he said.

"Muay Thai boxers traditionally perform magnificent, distinctive gestures and dances on the ring during the homage- paying rituals which should be promoted as part of the Thai martial art," he commented. Endi