Chinese Ambassador to Thailand: China and Thailand will deepen cooperation and increase efforts to crack down on cross-border criminal activities such as electronic fraud and online gambling

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand and the "Golden 50 Years of China Thailand Friendship". The 'China Thailand family bond' has stood the test of time and become a model of peaceful coexistence and common development between countries. "Recently, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang stated in an interview with Global Times reporters that currently, both China and Thailand are emphasizing the strengthening of development strategy docking, deepening cooperation in emerging economic and technological fields, and actively preparing for the Thai king's historic state visit to China in the second half of this year.

Recently, the issue of electronic fraud at the Thai Myanmar border has attracted close attention from all parties. As China, Myanmar, and Thailand intensify their crackdown on cyber fraud zones, Myanmar's cyber fraud zones have released approximately 7000 people from more than 20 countries. According to the spokesperson of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikande Balankula, on the 6th, Thailand plans to repatriate 1500 people per week, that is, 300 people per working day. The repatriation of Chinese citizens is mainly arranged from Wednesday to Friday every week.

Regarding this, Han Zhiqiang expressed appreciation for the strong measures taken by the Thai side to destroy the electronic fraud gang and safeguard the safety of Chinese and foreign citizens' lives and property. China will continue to deepen law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries, including Thailand, and increase efforts to crack down on cross-border illegal and criminal activities such as electronic fraud, online gambling, and human trafficking. We will make every effort to coordinate the search and rescue of missing and trapped persons, and effectively safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the people's lives and property.

Global Times: In February of this year, Thai Prime Minister Petantan made his first official visit to China since taking office as Prime Minister. What do you think is the significance of this visit? What is your outlook for the future of China Thailand relations in the current international situation?

Han Zhiqiang: From February 5th to 8th, Premier Petongtan made his first official visit to China and attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games. The visit was successful and fruitful. This visit marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand and the beginning of the "Golden 50 Years of China Thailand Friendship". The leaders of the two countries had in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and regional international issues, and reached important consensus, which is of great significance.

One is to build a solid foundation of political mutual trust. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations half a century ago, China and Thailand have always adhered to mutual respect, equal treatment, sincere mutual trust, and mutual assistance. The "China Thailand family bond" has stood the test of time and become a model of peaceful coexistence and common development between countries.     Both sides emphasized strengthening the alignment of development strategies, deepening cooperation in emerging economic and technological fields, and actively preparing for the historic state visit of the King of Thailand to China in the second half of this year. This visit further strengthened the political mutual trust between China and Thailand, and further consolidated the foundation for the two countries to build a community with a shared future.

The second is to inject strong momentum into pragmatic cooperation. China has been Thailand's largest trading partner and export market for agricultural products for 12 consecutive years. It is also Thailand's main source of foreign investment and foreign tourists, and the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries is flourishing. During the visit, the leaders of the two countries witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents, and discussed strengthening connectivity, deepening cooperation in the production and supply chain, strengthening law enforcement security and judicial cooperation, and expanding cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy and new energy vehicles under the framework of high-quality joint construction of the "the Belt and Road". The cooperation between the two sides in various fields is expected to be comprehensively improved and upgraded, which will better help the economic and social development of the two countries and better benefit the two peoples.

The third is to promote a new wave of cultural exchanges. From December 5th of last year to February 15th of this year, the Buddhist tooth relic of Lingguang Temple in Beijing was enshrined in Thailand, which received a warm response from the whole Thai society, with as many as 3 million people paying their respects. During the Spring Festival, King Wajilalongkorn and Queen Sutida held a Spring Festival ancestor worship ceremony. Princess Sirindhorn visited Bangkok's Chinatown to attend the celebration. Prime Minister Patongtan issued an AI Chinese congratulatory speech. "Happy Spring Festival" brought the people of China and Thailand closer and closer. During the visit, the two sides agreed to actively explore international cooperation on giant pandas, deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture, tourism, education, sports and other fields, and constantly promote mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples, so that China Thailand friendship can be passed on from generation to generation.

The fourth is to work together to tackle complex international challenges. Against the backdrop of accelerating changes over the past century, weak global economic recovery, and rising protectionism and unilateralism, the two countries are facing common external challenges and share common interests and similar views on many international and regional issues. Both sides need to strengthen cooperation in defending international fairness and justice, maintaining the multilateral trading system, and promoting the improvement of global economic governance. During this visit, Thailand clearly supported the "the Belt and Road" initiative, the global development initiative, the global security initiative, and the global civilization initiative proposed by China. The two sides agreed to strengthen strategic communication under multilateral platforms such as the Lancang Mekong Cooperation, APEC, BRICS, and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue. The friendly cooperation between China and Thailand will help both countries jointly cope with global risks and challenges, and contribute positive forces to regional and world peace, stability, and prosperity.

At present, China Thailand relations are maintaining healthy, stable, and rapid development. Close exchanges and cooperation between the two countries occupy favorable timing, location, and people's harmony, and people's hearts are in line with the trend of the times. The 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations is an important milestone in the relationship between the two countries. The two sides have agreed to take "50 Golden Years of China Thailand Friendship" as the theme of this year's bilateral relations, and "China Thailand Unity, Shared Destiny" as the common slogan of the two countries this year. They will summarize the beneficial experience of the two sides working hand in hand over the past 50 years and open a new chapter in China Thailand relations.

Looking ahead to the future, we are full of confidence in the beautiful prospect of China Thailand building a community with a shared future. One is to maintain close high-level exchanges and dialogues, deepen strategic communication, jointly respond to external risks and challenges, and continuously promote the deepening and implementation of the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Thailand. Secondly, we need to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen cooperation in areas such as connectivity, economic and trade investment, green development, and digital economy, assist in the modernization process of our respective countries, promote people to people exchanges, and build a more solid and significant golden 50 year friendship between China and Thailand. The third is to strengthen regional multilateral communication and cooperation, deepen Lancang Mekong Cooperation, China ASEAN Cooperation, and cooperation under the United Nations framework, contribute to maintaining regional peace and stability, promote the convergence of forces in the "Global South", and promote the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system.

Global Times: The Thai Cabinet recently approved the China Thailand Railway Phase II project, which is expected to be completed by 2030. The China Thailand Railway is an important cooperation project for the two countries to jointly build the "the Belt and Road". Can you share the latest progress of this project? What impact does this project have on the economies of the two countries?

Han Zhiqiang: During Premier Petongtan's visit to China, the leaders of the two countries reached an important consensus on implementing flagship projects such as the China Thailand railway and promoting the development of China Laos Thailand connectivity to achieve more results as soon as possible. The Thai side stated that it will accelerate the construction of the first phase of the China Thailand Railway and will launch the second phase within this year. The Chinese side highly appreciates this and will actively provide assistance and cooperation.

The China Thailand Railway is not only a new efficient and safe land route for people and logistics between China and Thailand, but also an important component of the transportation artery in the Indochina Peninsula. In the future, the China Thailand railway will further extend southward and connect with the railway networks of Malaysia and Singapore, which can further promote connectivity between China and Southeast Asian countries. This' Pan Asian Railway 'can also be connected to Europe through the' China Europe freight train ', which has unlimited prospects. The China Laos Railway has been running smoothly for more than three years. The completion of the China Thailand Railway as soon as possible will help achieve the development goal of China Laos Thailand connectivity and benefit the people of the three countries.

Global Times: In March of this year, the China Thailand visa free agreement has been in effect for one year. How do you evaluate the impact of the visa free agreement on personnel exchanges between the two sides? What potential do you think the two countries have to explore in cultural industry cooperation?

Han Zhiqiang: Since the implementation of the China Thailand Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement, the people of the two countries have gone in both directions, and the people to people and cultural exchanges between China and Thailand have reached a new climax. In 2024, there were 6.733 million Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, accounting for 19% of the total number of foreign tourists in Thailand, ranking first. The number of Thai tourists visiting China has grown rapidly, exceeding 1.1 million in 2024, nearly three times the number in 2023 and far exceeding pre pandemic levels. China has become one of the most popular destinations for Thai tourists traveling abroad. According to the prediction of the China Thailand Tourism Industry Association, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand will further increase significantly by 2025, and the popularity of Thai tourism to China will continue to rise.

Cultural exchange and mutual learning help the "China Thailand family bond" to endure for a long time. In recent years, with the help of new carriers such as film and television dramas, games, online culture, and cultural and creative products, Chinese culture and development concepts have become more fashionable, diversified, and open, attracting the attention and welcome of more and more Thai people, especially young people, and become a new window for Thai people to understand China and understand China. At the same time, China and Thailand are important markets for cultural products to go global and for soft power economic cooperation. China and Thailand can further strengthen the strategic docking of cultural and creative industry development, and enhance exchanges in policy exchanges, talent cultivation, digital technology empowerment, and improving the international competitiveness of cultural products. The cooperation between China and Thailand in the cultural industry is not only an important force for promoting people to people exchanges, but also a new growth point for each other's economy, with broad development prospects.

Global Times: The recent Thailand Myanmar border fraud issue has attracted close attention from all parties. How do you evaluate the recent measures taken by the Thai side to combat electronic fraud? Can you introduce the latest progress of China Thailand cooperation in combating telecommunications fraud and other transnational criminal activities?

Han Zhiqiang: Recently, in response to the continuous occurrence of vicious cases of online gambling and fraud on the Thai Myanmar border, China, Thailand, and Myanmar have jointly launched a concentrated crackdown on them. Multiple electronic fraud dens have been eradicated, and a large number of suspects have been arrested. At present, more than 2000 Chinese suspect have been repatriated to China. The Chinese side appreciates the strong measures taken by the Thai side to destroy the electronic fraud gang and safeguard the safety of Chinese and foreign citizens' lives and property.

China will continue to deepen law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries, including Thailand, and increase efforts to crack down on cross-border illegal and criminal activities such as electronic fraud, online gambling, and human trafficking. We will make every effort to coordinate the search and rescue of missing and trapped persons, effectively safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the people's lives and property, and jointly maintain regional peace and tranquility. At the same time, we also require overseas Chinese citizens to strictly abide by local laws and regulations and not engage in illegal or criminal activities.

Global Times: In the current complex and ever-changing international environment, ASEAN plays an important role in regional affairs. How do you view the prospects for cooperation between China and ASEAN countries in maintaining regional peace, stability, and prosperity?

Han Zhiqiang: For a long time, East Asia has maintained a good situation of peace, stability, and rapid development, and has formed a regional cooperation mechanism based on the central role of ASEAN. In the past few decades, turmoil and disputes have emerged in various parts of the world, and East Asia has been known as an oasis of peaceful development. The current situation in East Asia is also facing various variables. Cold War mentality and group confrontation schemes are eroding East Asian unity, undermining East Asian cooperation, and threatening regional stability and development. As an important force on the regional and international stage, ASEAN must be highly vigilant about this dangerous trend, and work together with countries in the region, including China, to cherish and maintain the hard won peaceful development situation.

China firmly supports ASEAN integration and community building, and firmly supports ASEAN strategic autonomy. Among the major powers outside the region, China was the first to stand up and support the central position of ASEAN, the first to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and the first to express its willingness to sign the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone with ASEAN. Since the start of the dialogue process in 1991, political mutual trust between the two sides has significantly increased, and practical cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results. China has maintained its position as the largest trading partner of ASEAN for 14 consecutive years, and the two sides have been each other's largest trading partners for 3 consecutive years.

The relationship between China and ASEAN has surpassed the bilateral scope and has profound Asian significance and global influence. The substantive conclusion of the upgrade negotiations for the China ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 provides institutional guarantees for the joint construction of a super large market. The dividends of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) continue to be released, and regional economic integration is accelerating. China is willing to continue to pursue the diplomatic concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, strengthen the docking of the "the Belt and Road" initiative and the three major global initiatives with ASEAN, continue to promote the construction of the "five homes" of peace, tranquility, prosperity, beauty and friendship, build a closer China ASEAN community of destiny, and work together to build a better Asian home.