Mexican Ambassador Jaime Nualart. Photo Courtesy of Mexican Embassy in Thailand
Mexican Ambassador Jaime Nualart couldn’t be happier to be posted to a country which he has grown to appreciate through the years, both in his capacity as a diplomat and tourist.
Born in 1952 in Mexico City, he has travelled the globe with postings in Japan, India and Egypt, to name just a few. Passionate about culture and education, he has held a handful of posts related to this field, including that of being the first president of the Inter-American Commission for Culture in the Organisation of American States.
Nualart has always had a special place in his heart for Thailand.
“When I was posted in Japan in the early 1980s, the first country I visited in the region was Thailand,” said the Mexican envoy. “My sojourns to the Kingdom continued even after I posted to New Delhi, India, in the late 80s, for both vacations and to meet friends. In my capacity as ambassador, I might have been in Thailand for just a month, but I don’t consider myself a newcomer in the literal sense.
“When my trips were not connected with work, I travelled to Bangkok for shopping and cultural tours. Since the early 80s, Thailand has been on my mind and heart. I’ve always looked forward to one day serving here, so I am delighted that I am here.”
Nualart’s long and short terms goals are geared towards strengthening economic and cultural ties with Thailand. He believes there are several sectors where they can work together. Among other things, he would like to continue to support growing bilateral trade between both countries.
“We would also like to increase and diversify our trade with Thailand,” said Nualart, who has worked extensively in cultural preservation.
“We desire to see investments grow between both countries and solidify co-operation in different sectors, including science and technology, which is a significant one for us. An exchange of research and development and know-how which can profit both nations should be encouraged. I also hope to strengthen better cultural dialogue. We belong to ancient civilisations. We have a known history and are recognised globally for our respective food cultures.
“We can find common ground in our efforts to bolster cultural dialogue. One such method would be through film festivals. I am convinced if we can stage successful cultural events in art, cinema, performing arts, graffiti, jazz and other such arts, we can jointly work towards reaching this goal. I would be delighted to be a consultant in such events.”
Showcasing exhibitions by Mexican artists in Thailand would be another form of collaboration which he believes can be made possible through a joint venture by Thai and Mexican cultural institutions.
On this note, Nualart shared that in October there will be two cultural events held in Bangkok. One is sculptures and tapestries by Mexican artist Paloma Torres.
A well known artist, she will have a solo exhibition called “Social Weave” or “Tramas Urbanas” (in Spanish) at the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre. Her exhibitions, resembling tapestries, are sculptured in thread. Through weaving she produces urban landscapes and other interesting sculptures.
The other exhibition “Wings Of Mexico”, an interactive bronze sculpture by artist, Jorge Marín, should also drum up interest in Mexican culture.
His on-tour exhibition has been successfully shown in not just Mexico City and the US, but also public spaces in Berlin and Tel Aviv, China, Singapore and eventually in Thailand.
Despite the geographical distance, there are interesting similarities both countries share. “Love for good food is the first thing that comes to mind,” said Nualart with a smile.
“In fact, I believe that there are a significant number of ingredients in Thai food, which are common to Mexican cuisine. This could be one of the reasons why there are so many Mexican restaurants in Thailand, ingredients are readily available.
“Other similarities include the fact that both Mexican and Thais love spicy dishes, their cuisines are internationally recognised and that food is both symbolic and significant to their cultural identities. Due to this, I believe we can establish a dialogue through the exchange of gastronomic festivals, chefs and even fusion food.”
Nualart will also be looking to promote tequila and mezcal — a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of agave plant native to Mexico — in Thailand.
A passion to foster cultural exchange only makes him eager to witness closer corporation in jointly preserving and promoting each country’s traditions, history and archaeological sites. By establishing dialogue, he said, it is possible to involve the public in reaching these goals. Summing up his sentiments, he said: “In our differences, we can somehow strengthen our individuality.”
Being a seasoned diplomat, Nualart said each posting was enriching for him where apart from reaching his work related goals, he is able to pursue his personal interests. When he was in Japan, he got involved in traditional Japanese theatre. While in India, he learnt Buddhism, which he describes as a religion of peace, dialogue, enrichment, and also some understanding of Hinduism. It was in Egypt where Nualart learned to understand and respect Islam, and of course, the country’s splendid archaeological sites.
“My travels as a diplomat have taught me to respect, establish dialogue, appreciate other cultures, music, literature and arts. The knowledge builds you up as a person.”
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.