At the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to bolster the longstanding China-Thailand relationship.
President Xi highlighted the significant progress since his November 2022 visit to Thailand, where both nations agreed to build a China-Thailand community with a shared future. He expressed satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation across various sectors, which has delivered tangible benefits to the people of both countries.
The discussions focused on enhancing alignment in development strategies, sharing governance experiences, and expanding mutually beneficial collaborations. President Xi emphasized the importance of accelerating the construction of the China-Thailand railway and increasing cooperation in emerging fields such as new energy, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, he advocated for stronger cultural, educational, and youth exchanges to deepen the bond between the two nations.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn praised China's strategic global initiatives, highlighting their role in fostering international unity and cooperation. She acknowledged China's achievements in poverty alleviation and expressed optimism about celebrating the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations and the \"Golden Year of Friendship\" next year. The Prime Minister reiterated Thailand's commitment to learning from China's development experience and advancing joint initiatives under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Both leaders agreed to enhance coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, ASEAN, BRICS, and APEC. This collaboration aims to support regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity, addressing the numerous global challenges currently faced.
Looking forward, Thailand and China are set to deepen their historical friendship, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and work together to maintain a free trade system, ensuring continued progress and mutual benefits for the next 50 years.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
