Bangkok wants to befriend Ostersund

Not as far fetched as you'd think: The province already boasts a Thai pavilion dedicated to King Chulalongkorn, the only pavilion of its kind outside Thailand.  

  • Thailand’s capital Bangkok wants to befriend …
  • Bangkok has sent a friend request to Östersund in Jämtland. Thailand’s capital wants the Swedish city to be its twin town (or sister city, or ”vänort," which means friend city).
    A representative of the Bangkok city government requests a friendly response in a letter to the Östersund municipality. Discussions regarding an exchange between the cities began in July last year in connection with a soccer tournament in Östersund, during which a Thai delegation was visiting, according to daily Östersundsposten. The term twin town and sister city describes a form of cooperative agreement made between towns and cities to promote cultural and commercial ties.
    The modern concept of ”twinning” was conceived after WWII in 1947, and was intended to foster friendship and understanding between different cultures, and former foes as an act of peace and reconciliation.

  • ... Östersund, Sweden. Photo: Andreaze
  • The friend request is not as far fetched as you may think. The province Jämtland features Sweden's only Thai pavilion, built to commemorate a visit by King Chulalongkorn of Siam (present-day Thailand) in 1897: The Thai pavilion in Ragunda, Jämtland

  • The Thai pavilion in Ragunda. While much of the incredible building was constructed by companies of the Jämtland region, all of the decorations have been made by the present Thai king's own craftsmen.