On 23 May 2013, Mr. Chalit Manityakul, Ambassador of Thailand to the Arab Republic of Egypt, together with 6 ASEAN Ambassadors to the Arab Republic of Egypt, together call on His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam Sheikh of Al-Azhar, to discuss the current security challenges faced by ASEAN student studying at the Al-Azhar University, whose number accounts to about 20,000. The Grand Sheik expressed concerns on such challenges and proposed that a joint cooperation between Al-Azhar and ASEAN embassies be set up to further discuss on the security measures, and other related matters.

In this occasion, Ambassador Chalit Manityakul presented 1 million bath donation to the Grand Sheikh on behalf of the Royal Thai Government to support the Al-Azhar University’s activities. Upon receiving the contribution, the Grand Sheikh pledged that the money be allocated to support the welfare and activities of Thai students studying at the Al-Azhar University.

Since 1997, Thailand has annually contributed 1 million bath to AL-Azhar University, with the aim to express gratitude to the university for providing good care and guidance to Thai students, whose current number accounts for more than 2,500. As a result of such gesture from the Royal Thai Government, Al-Azhar has not only set up a Thai Student Fund, but also reduced the basic Arabic course’ fee for many Thai student Fund, but also reduced the basic Arabic course’s fee for many Thai student, who may be required to attend the course, to fifty per cent of the usual fee.