Message from Dr. Ernst Reichel, Ambassador of Germany to Thailand, on the Occasion of the National Day of Germany
Every year on October 3rd, Germany commemorates one of the most significant moments in its modern history: the peaceful reunification of East and West Germany in 1990. German Unity Day is more than a remembrance of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War in Europe – it is a living testament to the power of transformation, resilience and hope. This year, the city of Saarbrcken in the Saar region, bordering France, will host the national festivities under the theme of ‘Future through Change’. Saarbrcken – located at the military frontier in the Second World War and at the cultural intersection between France and Germany – has become an important symbol of reconciliation and peace. As we commemorate 80 years since the conclusion of the Second World War, this year, the choice of Saarbrcken as the host for this year’s Unity Day festivities is especially appropriate. The city is an important reminder of how challenges of the past can be overcome and pave the way for the future: today, it is a bridge city between France and Germany and has a growing reputation as a tech hub, renowned for its research on artificial intelligence.
Building bridges – between different ideologies, political systems and life experiences – is also at the heart of the process of German reunification. The fall of the wall on November 9, 1989, was just the dramatic climax of a development that had led to people in East Germany demanding freedom and believing in a shared future in a reunited country. The peaceful protests of that time remain a lesson to the world – that even in the face of division, change is possible when pursued with courage and conviction. The historical demise of the so-called German Democratic Republic in East Germany, by its own population, also serves to show that if inevitable change is not put in motion in time and gradually, by constitutional means, it tends to arrive abruptly, in the form of crisis and upheaval.
There is never an ‘end of history’: history is far from complete or set in stone. As the world is changing at an unprecedented pace, a successful future demands political, social, economic, environmental and technological transformation. Thailand is taking important steps that will lay the groundwork for this transformation; the elections next year will be a critical element in this regard. I believe that this drive for transformation, adaptation and innovation is what will be critical for the future of our two countries, Germany and Thailand, and what can unite us.
Our ties are strengthened by our shared belief in international law and the shared values that underpin it. Standing together as like-minded partners and choosing not to remain silent when facing violations of our shared principles and norms is particularly crucial in times of turbulent international developments – such as these. It is exactly middle-sized countries like Thailand or Germany, which do not have the means to push through their own arbitrary decisions in a globalised world, who must work together to accrue negotiating power. Together, they must insist on rules that apply to all states, large or small alike. In this vein, Thailand has recently put a lot of stress on the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines. Of course, there are also other, longer-standing and particularly severe, violations of fundamental international norms that require us to take a stand as well.
As a case in point, I was particularly impressed by legalisation of same-sex marriage in January 2025. Thailand thereby took a leadership role in Asia that has reverberated throughout the entire world.
I am also pleased to see that the Thai-German bond has strengthened further through our economic ties. As the third-largest economy in the world, Germany has more than 600 companies operating in Thailand, ranging from the automotive sector to semiconductors or to food processing. Addressing the effects of climate change and supporting a transition towards green and sustainable energy in Thailand remains an important area of partnership, and I am particularly proud of our Thai-German Cooperation on Energy, Mobility and Climate. In this partnership, we are working together to progressively electrify urban transport and decarbonise industry.
In a similar vein, this year, our respective Energy Ministries established the ‘Thai-German Energy Dialogue’ with the signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent. Through this dialogue, both countries aim to work closely to reduce carbon emissions and achieve shared climate and energy goals – an important step in the direction of a green and sustainable energy transition.
Another area in which our relationship has continuously flourished is language and intercultural exchange: we are deeply connected through education, as 20,000 students are currently learning German in Thailand, and student exchanges continue to enjoy great popularity.
Beyond the big building blocks of our close and fruitful partnership are smaller, but equally important, pieces: this year, the Bundesliga Dream Programme enabled 17 young Thai footballers to experience training with top-league German football clubs, such as FC Augsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt, and VfB Stuttgart. Borussia Dortmund also established a Youth Academy at the German-language school in Bangkok, fostering young talent at an early age.
As I enter my third year here in Thailand, I am convinced that our partnership will continue to grow and flourish. My hope is that we will continue to build towards a future that is democratic, inclusive and open – where international law and human rights are respected and where we stand, side by side, to defend these values.