Muslim and Chinese communities have lived in co-existence in Patani for a long time, because the city was a strategically important place in the past. It was also the center of the Lanka Suka Kingdom, which was prosperous in trade with the Arabs, Persians, Indians, Chinese, and other foreigners. The city was geographically suitable for trade, creating multi-ethnic communities and inter-relationships among them. The majority was the Chinese and Muslims and they co-existed relatively peacefully without violence. This indicated that they learned and adjusted themselves to live together despite differences in their cultural and religious backgrounds. Furthermore, the Chinese were keen on trade and commerce, greatly contributing to the prosperity and economy of the province (pp. 169-173).