TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Cartoonists from Taiwan and Thailand participated in the countries' first bilateral comics exchange in Bangkok on Thursday (Nov. 26).

The inaugural Taiwan-Thailand Comics Exchange, organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand and Taiwan's Ministry of Culture (MOC), got underway at the Open House Bookshop in Bangkok on Thursday. Renowned Thai cartoonists Munin Saiprasart and Art Jeeno joined up with award-winning Taiwanese artists Ruan Guang-min (阮光民) and Hom Weng (翁瑜鴻) for the event.

The MOC said the creative industries in both nations are prospering and that comics are one of the main mediums that truly reflect a society. With technological advancement, comics creation has transformed and can now reach readers around the world on various platforms, it added.

According to the MOC, the four cartoonists connected through videoconferencing and discussed the comics environment in their respective countries. They also recreated the characters of fellow cartoonists and put them in new settings, with Taiwanese and Thai cultures as the theme.

The cartoonists' artworks were put on display at the event venue, drawing large crowds. Taiwan's envoy to Thailand, Li Ying-yuan (李應元), received portraits from the four artists, reported CNA.

Taiwanese representative to Thailand Li Ying-yuan (center) receives portraits from four cartoonists. (CNA photo)