On December 30, 2008, the Confucius Institute and the Chinese Language Department at Chulalongkorn University jointly held the first Sirindhorn Cup Chinese Speech Contest for Thai College Students. The speech topic was “Princess Sirindhorn in My Eyes”.

36 contestants from the Chinese Language Departments of 19 colleges including Chulalongkorn University, Thammasat University and Chiang Mai University participated in the contest. A total of more than 100 teachers and students from universities and college in the country watched the contest. The vice president of Chulalongkorn University, dean of the Faculty of Arts, dean of the Thai side of the Confucius Institute and Mr. Chen Jiang, Cultural Counselor from the Chinese Embassy in Thailand attended and addressed the contest.

Since its establishment, Princess Sirindhorn has showed keen concern and support for the Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University. The Chinese Speech Contest for Thai College Students bestowed with the name “Sirindhorn Cup” after Princess Sirindhorn was the first one in Thailand. The contest is viewed highly upon by many universities and has greatly encouraged college students learning Chinese.