Aligning development strategies, deepening mutual understanding and matchmaking, leaders of China and Thailand jointly celebrate the 'Golden 50 Years'

    Since the establishment of diplomatic relations half a century ago, the two countries have adhered to mutual respect, equal treatment, sincere mutual trust, and mutual assistance, and have always firmly supported each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Thailand and the "golden 50 years of China Thailand friendship". The two sides should carry forward the past and forge ahead hand in hand, promote the construction of a community of shared future between China and Thailand to go deeper and more practical, better benefit the two peoples, and more benefit the region and the world. Thai media reported that this is the first official visit to China by Prime Minister Patton since he took office, and it also coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During the visit to China, Thailand and China will sign more than ten memorandums of understanding covering the economy, trade, investment and other fields, which will benefit the two peoples. An expert interviewed by the Global Times on the 6th said that Prime Minister Patontan's visit to China during the Chinese Spring Festival is not only a good start for the series of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, but also a solid foundation for the further development of bilateral relations in the future. The cooperation between the two countries is not only beneficial for the economic, political, and social development of both sides, but will also have a positive impact on the stability of the entire region.

Let the friendship between China and Thailand be deeply rooted in people's hearts and passed down from generation to generation

  China is willing to align its development strategy with Thailand, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, implement flagship projects such as the China Thailand Railway, and promote the development of China Laos Thailand connectivity to achieve more results as soon as possible. Deepen cooperation in emerging fields such as digital economy and new energy vehicles, and work together to create a more stable and smooth industrial and supply chain. The Chinese side appreciates the effective measures taken by Thailand to combat online gambling and fraud. Both sides should continue to strengthen law enforcement security and judicial cooperation, safeguard the safety of people's lives and property, and maintain the order of exchanges and cooperation among regional countries. We need to deepen mutual understanding and matchmaking, jointly hold rich and colorful celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, create more heartwarming and beneficial projects for people's livelihoods, and make the friendship between China and Thailand deeply rooted in people's hearts and passed down from generation to generation.

Pei Tongtan expressed his pleasure in visiting China on the occasion of the "Golden 50 Years of Thailand China Friendship". The Thai side looks forward to working with the Chinese side to strengthen high-level exchanges, close cooperation in areas such as connectivity, economy, trade, agriculture, etc., promote cultural exchanges and people to people exchanges, and open the next 50 years of shared peace and prosperity, benefiting future generations. Thailand is willing to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with China and other neighboring countries, take resolute and effective measures, and crack down on cross-border crimes such as online gambling and fraud.

Zhou Shixin, Director of the Southeast Asian Studies Center at the Shanghai Institute of International Studies, told Global Times reporters on the 6th that preparations for Premier Patten's visit to China have already begun. During last year's APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting, the two countries reached some consensus on how to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formal establishment of diplomatic relations this year. In addition, the Thai side also announced that the King of Thailand will pay a state visit to China at the end of this year. It can be said that this year is a friendly year for bilateral relations between China and Thailand, and it will also be a year of harvest.

Enhancing bilateral economic and trade exchanges, as well as cultural exchanges and cooperation, is an important topic of Pei Tongtan's visit to China. During the just passed Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, Thailand's bustling Sukhoi EM commercial district was decorated with various sizes of panda inflatable dolls and festive Spring Festival decorations. A large panda inflatable doll holding the national flags of China and Thailand attracted a large number of citizens and tourists to take photos and remember.

According to a report by the Thai newspaper "The Nation", a total of 8 cabinet members accompanied Patten Tan on his visit to China, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Pichai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society Baser, Minister of Tourism and Sports Soraon, and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Nalaimon.

According to the Bangkok Post, on the afternoon of the 6th, Paytontan also met with members of the China Thailand Chamber of Commerce. Phaichit Viboontanasarn, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, stated that the world is facing many challenges, but the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China provides an opportunity to overcome obstacles and strengthen cooperation.

The number of Chinese companies entering Thailand is rapidly increasing

According to the Ethnic Daily, spokesperson for the Thai Prime Minister's Office, Prayut Prayut, previously stated that during Patten's visit to China, Thailand and China will sign 15 memorandums of understanding. Seven of them have been approved by the Thai Cabinet, involving cooperation in the fields of fish product exports, artificial intelligence, higher education, postal services, digital economy investment, and green energy. The remaining 8 items do not require cabinet approval. The Bangkok Post reported that the agreement signed by the two countries also includes the completion of the ongoing Thailand China high-speed rail project and connecting it with the high-speed rail system of neighboring Laos. The negotiation of renting two giant pandas from China is also on the agenda.

According to the Ethnic Daily, China is Thailand's main economic partner, and has been Thailand's largest trading partner for 12 consecutive years, as well as one of Thailand's largest sources of investment. According to data released by the General Administration of Customs of China on January 18, the bilateral trade volume between China and Thailand in 2024 was 133.9815 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 6.1%. According to data released by the Investment Commission of Thailand on January 13th, China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) will be the second largest source of foreign investment in Thailand in 2024, with 810 projects applied for investment and a total investment amount of 174.6 billion Thai baht (approximately 5.1 billion US dollars).

"The number of Chinese enterprises stationed in Thailand is increasing rapidly." The Nihon Keizai Shimbun recently reported that Chinese enterprises have successively settled in eastern Thailand, such as Rayong Prefecture and Chonburi Prefecture. In addition to automotive and car battery companies such as BYD, Changan Automobile, GAC Group, Honeycomb Energy Technology, and Guoxuan High tech, home appliance companies such as Haier have also shown a presence. According to the CEO of WHA Group, the largest industrial park enterprise in Thailand, "65% of industrial park buyers will be Chinese companies from 2020 to mid-2024.

According to the Thai Business News Network, China has been Thailand's largest trading partner and an important source of investment for many years, demonstrating the sustained and profound relationship between the two countries. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the the Belt and Road Initiative have promoted this partnership and led to growth and cooperation in important areas. According to the article, the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" initiative has achieved remarkable results, making trade routes more diversified and accelerating the entry of Thai goods into China. For example, the China Laos Railway has cut the time of transporting Durian from Thailand to Chongqing by half.

This year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand has exceeded 710000

Another key expectation of Pei Tongtan's visit to China is to rebuild the confidence of Chinese tourists in traveling to Thailand. According to the Bangkok Post, the country's Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced on the 4th that as of February 2nd, the number of tourists visiting Thailand this year has reached 3.97 million, with over 710000 being Chinese tourists. The number of arrivals in January surged by 22%, reaching 3.7 million. The report states that the growth of relevant data cannot be separated from the driving force of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

At the beginning of last month, a Chinese actor was kidnapped by a telephone fraud gang near the Thai Myanmar border, which had a negative impact on Chinese tourists traveling to Thailand. Thai media reported on Payton Tan's visit to China that on the day she arrived in Beijing on the 5th, Thailand began cutting off power, oil, and internet in five areas of Myanmar where cross-border power fraud was involved. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Putan stated on the 6th that after the power outage in the areas related to the Thai Myanmar border, according to monitoring, the electricity consumption in a gathering area of electricity fraud in Myanmar has been reduced by half, indicating that the measures have had an impact. Currently, Thailand is strengthening border control measures.

According to the Bangkok Post on the 6th, a spokesperson for the Thai Ministry of Defense stated that 61 people rescued from a Myanmar fraud center during the meeting between Thai and Chinese leaders are returning to Thailand. "There are more than 30 Chinese people. The rest are from Indonesia, Ethiopia and other countries." According to the statement issued by the Thai government on the 6th, Patontan said that Thailand attaches importance to intercepting members of criminal gangs who use Thailand as a transit station to other countries through cooperation with China's alarm system. She also promised to protect the safety of tourists traveling to Thailand.

Zhou Shixin told Global Times reporters that in the future, China and Thailand will engage in exchanges and cooperation in more fields to promote further development of bilateral relations. Moreover, Thailand holds a very typical and iconic significance to ASEAN, as ASEAN was declared in Bangkok, Thailand in 1967. Therefore, Thailand's importance and role in ASEAN are self-evident.

Ge Hongliang, vice president of the ASEAN College of Guangxi Minzu University, told the Global Times that under the current regional situation, the development of China ASEAN relations, in addition to focusing on the construction of a community of shared future and the "the Belt and Road" project, is also more reflected in the resilience of bilateral relations. This resilience includes the interaction between politics, economy, security, and civilization. Around the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, the two countries will focus on issues of mutual concern this year. The joint resolution of these issues is of great significance for both China and Thailand, as well as China and ASEAN countries, to jointly promote regional security and development.