As the 10 members of the Southeast Asian bloc enter the Asean Economic Community in 2015, Thais will have to be careful when it comes to their attitude towards people in neighbouring countries, Pramaha Wuttichai Vajiramedhi said at a seminar hosted by the Thailand-China Business Council.
"Some Thais may think that we're superior to our neighbours, such as those in Laos and Burma," he said on Thursday.
He suggested that new movies aimed at stirring nationalism, which might lead to a resurfacing of conflict, should be reduced in number. In recent years, Thai moviemakers have launched many historically based films such as "King Naresuan" that focusing on ancient conflicts between the Kingdom of Siam and Burma.
Pramaha Wuttichai said the rioting in England last year was partly caused by racial prejudice among police officers towards blacks or immigrants.
"When the European Union was formed as a single market, people could move freely from one country to another, which led to a clash of cultures, since people have not yet changed their mindsets," he said.
He said reconciliation between Burma's military rulers and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi had resulted in great changes in that country.
He noted that a monk friend in Burma had once said men there could become either monks or soldiers - there were no other viable choices. But after the national reconciliation, people have more choices on what they can do with their lives, he said.
Many believe that the current period is the Asian century because of the rise of economic power led by China and India. Pramaha Wuttichai said that some say it may be the century of spirituality. The new religion may not have a brand name like Buddhism, Christianity or Islam, but it would be a philosophy of life as people choose the best things from many religions.
Westerners have show interest in Buddhism in recent years; some governments in Europe such as Norway's even provide funding for Buddhist temples. "They have experienced excessive materialism; now they want to take a spiritual path," Pramaha Wuttichai said.
Suu Kyi, who expressed her sincere forgiveness for the generals who imposed house arrest on her for many years, has contributed to political and social improvements in Burma recently, said the monk. In the same way, if conflicting parties in Thailand could reach reconciliation, it would be beneficial for everybody.
Suthichai Yoon, Nation Group editor-in-chief, said the Buddhist religion had contributed greatly to the reconciliation in Burma.
"Everybody - the army, dissidents and the people - goes to pray at the same place, Chavedakong Pagoda," said Suthichai, referring to a famous Golden Pagoda in Rangoon also known as Great Dagon Pagoda.
