Mae Fah Luang University (MFU), led by the School of Sinology, the Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center, the Student Development Affairs Division, the Confucius Institute at MFU in collaboration with Xiamen University, organised the Thai–Chinese Cultural & Music Festival at the indoor stadium. This grand festival was a part of celebratory events for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, aiming to honour the close ties and showcase the beauty of their cultures through music, art, and performances.
The festival featured a vibrant mix of Thai classical music, regional folk music, Chinese traditional music, and cultural performances by MFU students and a musical troupe from Xiamen University.
The opening ceremony featured a grand parade of the Naga and Dragon, mythical creatures that represent Thailand and China with auspicious meaning, onto the stage. This was followed by Prof. Dr. Vanchai Sirichana, Chairman of the University Council, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Matchima Naradisorn, MFU President, jointly placing a symbolic ball on the ceremonial stand to mark the commencement of the event.
The performances were divided into four main acts:
• Act I: Performances by Xiamen University and the Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center.
• Act II: “The Enchantment of the Ten Ethnic Groups of Chiang Rai.”
• Act III: A live painting narrating Thai–Chinese relations accompanied by live music.
• Act IV: A two-culture concert combining Thai and Chinese music.
The programme featured familiar and beloved pieces from both nations, such as Mayuraphirom, Fon Ngiew, Yam Yen, The Moon Represents My Heart, Lao Duang Duean, The Moonlight over the Lotus Pond, Lot Lai Mangkon, Krabi Rai Thiamthan (Reincarnated), Jao Pho Shanghai (The Bund), and Thai–Chinese Brothers of One Heart. The programme also included lion dances, dragon dances, and kung fu demonstrations.
The event concluded with a Finale performance in which both cultures came together on stage to symbolise unity and enduring Thai–Chinese friendship. The performance reflected the richness and diversity of both cultures, inviting the public to experience and celebrate this heritage together.
Alongside the performances, the festival featured Thai and Chinese cultural exhibitions presented by students and the Institute for Mekong Basin Civilization, Art and Culture.
The comprehensive series of events hosted by Mae Fah Luang University—from the academic forum and specialized academic clusters to the vibrant Thai–Chinese Cultural & Music Festival—served as a powerful affirmation of the deep, enduring friendship between Thailand and China. These celebrations not only honoured 50 years of diplomatic relations and key institutional anniversaries but also provided a dynamic platform for substantive exchange across science, health science, humanities, and business. By bringing together government officials, academic leaders, researchers, and students, the events successfully strengthened educational cooperation as a key foundation for bilateral ties.
Ultimately, these activities went beyond commemoration; they actively fostered mutual understanding and paved a clear path for future innovative collaborations, reaffirming MFU's crucial role in contributing to the sustainable development of a shared future community in the Greater Mekong Subregion and beyond.
