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The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume IV - 2012 36  5. Fazit: A New Era in Thai-Asian and Western Relations King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit’s world trip in 1960, state visits in 1962 (and 1965), set the stage for a new era in Siamese-European-western relations. These bonds would de fi ne the country’s relations with Europe and America throughout the 20 th century, down to the formation of the European Union. Especially important is that on these trips, the monarchs were received as an “equal” by the crowned heads and leaders of the visited countries and this tremendously changed the ‘old image’ of ‘Siam’ or ‘Thailand’. The voyages to the West by the Siamese monarchs in the 19 th and 20 th century had many points in common. In sailing to the continent, King Chulalongkorn set Siam on a course of development based almost entirely on the Western model, particularly education. His trips marked the start of of fi cial diplomatic relations with European countries such as Russia, Norway, and Poland, and strengthened already existing ties between the Siamese court and some of the leading countries of Europe, especially Russia, Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The State Visits of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit in the 20 th century strengthened these bonds and established ‘old friendships’ in the new dif fi cult circumstances after World War II, which can be best illustrated from Their Majesties’ state visits to the United States of America, Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom in 1960. The journeys marked a new era of transporting the technology from the western Figure 18: Queen Sirikit on the managing the emergency accommodation for the refugees, in: K Ӧ nigin Sirikit, Juwel ihres Landes, p. 339 Queen Sirikit on Her Majesty’s State Visits in 1960 and 1962