His Eminence Prof. Ahmad at-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, received His Excellency Ambassador Thanawat Sirikul, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Cairo, to discuss ways of strengthening joint cooperation between al-Azhar and Thailand.
His Eminence affirmed the depth of the relations that bind al-Azhar and the Kingdom of Thailand together, which international students have helped to strengthen and develop. He noted that al-Azhar currently has 3,340 male and female students from Thailand studying at its various educational levels, and that al-Azhar offers 170 scholarships to the children of Thailand’s Muslims to study the Islamic and Arabic sciences, as well as the applied and practical sciences, such as medicine, engineering, and pharmacy, at al-Azhar University. He added that al-Azhar sends 19 Azhari envoys to Thailand to promote the moderate approach and that 142 schools have had their certificates recognized as equivalent to al-Azhar certificate, in order to facilitate their students’ admission to al-Azhar University.
On his part, the Thai Ambassador expressed his pleasure at meeting the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, affirming his country’s appreciation for the pivotal standing that al-Azhar enjoys and of its role in spreading a culture of fraternity, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. He also expressed his appreciation for the support that al-Azhar provides to the Thai students studying there.
The Thai Ambassador also conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, King of Thailand and Her Majesty Queen Suthida, together with their wishes for His Eminence’s continued health and well-being and for his continued fulfillment of his pivotal role in consolidating a culture of global peace, fraternity and peaceful coexistence.
