Forging an ever-deepening bond, 45 years on
On July 1, 1975, Premier Zhou Enlai and Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj signed the Joint Communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations in Beijing, opening a new chapter in China-Thailand relations. Over the past 45 years, the two countries have made remarkable achievements in their respective development paths and bilateral relations have always maintained such sound and stable progress that China-Thailand relations today have become more comprehensive, pragmatic and dynamic.
Comprehensive: strategic mutual trust is deepening and cooperation fields are expanding.
The two countries’ leaders have maintained frequent contact, exchanged views candidly on major strategic issues such as bilateral relations and international and regional situations, and provided mutual support on issues involving each other’s core interests. The political foundation of China-Thailand relations is increasingly profound and unbreakable. In recent years, President Xi Jinping has congratulated His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn on his coronation and conferred China’s Medal of Friendship on HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Premier Li Keqiang paid an official visit to Thailand and attended a series of East Asian Cooperation Leaders’ Meetings, while Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and other Thai leaders have led many delegations to China. The exchanges between the two sides on governance and poverty reduction are deepening continuously.
Pragmatic: mutually beneficial cooperation has yielded fruitful results to the great benefit of people in both countries.
Bilateral trade volume increased 3,700-fold, from US$24.62 million at the time of the establishment of diplomatic relations to US$91.7 billion last year. China has been Thailand’s largest trading partner for seven consecutive years, this country’s largest source of foreign investment in 2019 and China’s third-largest trading partner among Asean countries.
The construction of the high-speed ChinaThailand railway continues to advance and after its completion, will benefit the countries and people in the region for many years to come. More than 100 Chinese companies have been launched at the Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park, which has effectively promoted local economic development and substantial employment. The two countries have concluded 39 pairs of sister cities, with strong momentum in local interaction. China has been the largest source of Thailand tourism for many years and the number of Chinese visitors here has exceeded 10 million for two straight years.
They have also collaborated in the opening of 16 Confucius Institutes and 11 Confucius Classrooms in Thailand and nearly 1,500 Chinese volunteers have taught Chinese language and culture around this country. In 2019, a total of 36,000 Chinese students were studying in Thailand, while 28,000 Thai students went to study in China — mutual understanding between the countries’ younger generations can only continue to deepen. We have also seen the founding of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Innovation Cooperation Centre (Bangkok) and fruitful exchanges between the Nanjing University of the Arts of China and the Princess Kalyani Vadhana Institute of Music. Thai TV series are popular in China and Chinese films, TV series and online literature are also loved by the young in Thailand.
Dynamic: The two countries have injected far-sighted initiatives to deepen their bond and constantly added vitality and new meaning to their relationship.
Both sides have agreed to strengthen economic development, promote the complementary advantages of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) construction, Thailand 4.0 and Thailand EEC, and constantly strengthened their cooperation in the new economy. Huawei, Alibaba, JD and other leading Chinese companies have joined forces with Thailand’s business leaders to promote the vigorous development of Thailand’s “future industries” such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, modern logistics and 5G communication. This has added new momentum to the vigorous development of mutually beneficial cooperation. Faced with unprecedented changes in the world, both sides have firmly upheld multilateralism and free trade. In doing so they have jointly promoted the construction of a new international political and economic order which embraces hopes and dreams that are common to all people, reflects the requirements of historical development and progress during these uncertain times, reflects a fair and reasonable new international political and economic order, as well as creates a new world of lasting peace and prosperity.
This year, the novel coronavirus pandemic has been widespread around the world, seriously threatening global health. Faced with this unprecedented challenge, China and Thailand have worked closely and helped each other, vividly illustrating the sincere kinship between the two countries and the great spirit of community and a shared future for mankind.
His Majesty the King sent a message to President Xi Jinping, highly appreciating the effective measures taken by China to fight the epidemic. Prime Minister Prayut delivered a video speech cheering on China and the world to fight Covid19. Thailand has made great efforts to help this cause, speedily donating a substantial number of medical products to China. In turn, China has adhered to the traditional virtue of “you throw a peach to me and I will give you a white jade for friendship”. At a critical moment in Thailand’s fight against the virus, China provided comprehensive support, quickly sharing epidemic information, communicating prevention measures, discussing treatment solutions and carrying out vaccine research and cooperation in potential medical breakthroughs. The Chinese government, plus the country’s companies, friendly organisations and non-governmental organisations have donated substantial medical products to Thailand to support its efforts to counter the epidemic. Meanwhile, the pragmatic cooperation between China and Thailand bucked the trend under the heavy pressure of the epidemic, with imports and exports increasing by 8.1% from January to May. Durian exports from Thailand to China accounted for 66.94% of Thailand’s total durian exports in the first quarter. There is ample evidence that after the epidemic, China-Thailand relations will be even more intimate and unbreakable and their cooperation, so sorely tested by the epidemic, will be more resilient and dynamic.
Looking back on the past 45 years, under the guidance of leaders in both countries and through the efforts of both their peoples, ChinaThailand relations have broken new ground and thrived. The future for the China-Thailand relationship is one of high-level, wide-ranging and deep-seated cooperation in all aspects.
Yang Xin is Chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy.