Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang said President Xi Jinping’s first visit to Thailand marks a milestone in bilateral ties. Xi will attend the 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok this week at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Under changing historical conditions, China-Thailand relations have tremendous potential and broad possibilities, Han told Chinese and Thai media.
He believes Xi would collaborate with Thai authorities to design the way for long-term China-Thailand relations, making the visit a new milestone in bilateral ties.
Since the COVID-19 epidemic, the two nations have worked together to combat it and drive economic recovery, marking a new chapter of ties in which China and Thailand share wealth and misery.
This year celebrates 47 years of China-Thailand diplomatic ties and 10 years of their strategic collaboration.
The envoy noted China is Thailand’s largest commercial partner, agricultural export market, and foreign investment source.
Despite COVID-19, bilateral economic and commercial cooperation has increased. Bilateral trade surpassed $100 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to achieve a record high this year, he said.
Han said accelerating the building of the China-Thailand high-speed railway and connecting it with the China-Laos Railway will facilitate people and logistics, stimulate economic and trade development, and achieve common prosperity.
Since opening over a year ago, the China-Laos Railway has handled over 10 million tons of freight, he said.
Han said Chinese investment in Thailand has grown fast in recent years, and there are vast potential for cutting-edge cooperation.
China’s 5G technology, e-commerce, electric cars, and solar goods have supported Thailand’s new economy and are important development drivers of the mutually beneficial partnership, he added.
As developing nations and close neighbors, China and Thailand share many interests, ideas, and attitudes, said the envoy.
Prayut attended Xi’s June High-level Dialogue on Global Development. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai attended a ministerial meeting in September (GDI). He claimed both showed Thailand’s support for Xi’s GDI.
Thailand has also given Xi’s Global Security Initiative a favourable response, he said.
Han said the forthcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting theme of “Open, Connect, Balance” serves the shared demands of growth and collaboration in Asia-Pacific and promotes economic cooperation in the region.
Xi will provide China’s remedies and thoughts on APEC, global governance, and economic recovery, he added.
