Close Sino-Thai Ties Witnessed at Celebrations for 35th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

China and Thailand are kith and kin”， and “China-Thailand friendship is thriving”， were words repeatedly used by Korn Dabbaransi， President of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association (TCFA) during activities marking the 35th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. At the invitation of the TCFA， a delegation led by Shi Guangsheng， President of the Chinses-Thai Friendship Association (CTFA)， arrived in Thailand last December 26 to take part in the celebrations. The two friendship associations jointly held the China-Thailand Economic Forum and the Chinese-Thai badminton and golf friendship matches. The Chinese delegation presented a jade statue of Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) to their host to express Chinese friendly sentiments towards the Thai people.

The Thai State leaders praised people-to-people exchanges for adding new contents to Thailand-China friendship. In his meeting with the Chinese delegation， Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was happy to see the friendship organizations of the two countries actively preparing activities for celebration of the 35th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations， adding new content to the friendship. Thailand and China were like brothers and the friendship was an important component of the overall friendly relations that would surely be elevated by more people- to-people contacts. Thailand and China enjoyed close cooperation in many areas such as establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area， the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS) Cooperation and construction of the Pan-Asian Railway. At his meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao while attending the Asian Games in Guangzhou， they agreed to cooperate further in tourism， investment， economy and trade. The Thai Government welcomed China’s active participation in the construction of the Thai high-speed railway he hoped would be linked with the Chinese railway network through the Pan-Asian Railway as early as possible. The Prime Minister also expressed the hope that the two friendship associations would play a greater role in such matters.

During his meeting with the Chinese delegation， Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya stressed the importance of strengthening exchanges between the two countries. He told the Chinese delegation he had already made a suggestion to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that at least four ministers be sent to China on study tours of various parts in 2011. Now， Thailand has eight consulates in China and plans to set up more in future. In 2011， the Thai Foreign Ministry and its embassy and consulates in China will open websites in Chinese to facilitate the exchanges of information. Thailand is willing to increase contacts between youth and children. He expressed his belief that the friendship associations of the two countries could play a very important role in this aspect and make greater contributions in future.

CTFA President Shi Guangsheng gave a brief introduction of the activities sponsored by the two associations to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic relations and thanked the two governments for their support. The aim of holding these activities was to strengthen the intimate relations between China and Thailand. State-to-state relations， in the final analysis， are really a relationship between peoples. Mutual understanding and friendship were very important to bilateral relations， for which the two friendship associations should do more practical work and provide more platforms to deepen knowledge and friendly sentiments.

The economic forum put forward proposals on strengthening cooperation between China and Thailand within the framework of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. On the morning of December 27， the China-Thailand Economic Forum with the theme of “New Opportunities， New Development” was held in the Swissotel Bangkok. Officials in charge of economic and trade affairs and economic experts discussed bilateral economic and trade cooperation after the launching of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. Over 200 representatives from industrial and business circles attended the forum.

In his speech， Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot reviewed bilateral economic and trade ties in the past year since the establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area， expounded on the new opportunities China’s development had brought to Thailand and gave a brief account of the investment environment in Thailand. He expressed his belief that within the framework of bilateral and multilateral cooperation， there was room for more development.

Zhao Jinping， Deputy Director General of the Research Department of Foreign Economic Relations under the Development Research Center of the State Council of China， Li Guanghui， Director of Institute of Asia and Africa Studies of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce， and Li Shaozhu， Vice President of Thailand Chia Tai Group， spoke at the forum. The participants all agreed the forum had great significance in guiding the bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Shi Guangsheng briefed Thai Prime Minister Abhisit on the forum when received by the latter on the afternoon of December 27. He said: “The rapid economic development achieved by China since reform and opening up has benefited not only the Chinese people， but also the people in other Asian countries including Thailand. Countries in the world are interdependent in their development. China attaches great importance to and treasures the development of its relations with other Asian countries. It was out of this consideration that China started negotiations on establishing the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. I am lucky to be involved in this work of historical significance， and am happy to see that both countries have benefited from the Free Trade Area. It would provide more space for the bilateral cooperation. In 2010， the bilateral trade volume will have reached about US$ 40 billion， which would have been unthinkable before. We see the kith and kin relations between China and Thailand as boosting the economic and trade growth of the two countries， in turn furthering friendly relations.

The badminton and golf friendship matches enhanced friendship. TCFA President Korn Dabbaransi once served as president of the International Badminton Federation. He told the delegation that 35 years ago， a friendship match was held between the Chinese and Thai national badminton players. Officials of the Thai Foreign Ministry using 1 identities came along with the team to China and had secret meetings with the Chinese side to discuss matters of establishing diplomatic relations. It can be said that that friendship match marked the beginning of China-Thailand friendly relations. To commemorate this historical match， initiated by Korn Dabbaransi， a friendship match between the former players of the two national teams was held in the Badminton Hall of Thailand Kasam Bundit University (KBU). Six former members of the Chinese badminton national team including two Olympic champions Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen and four world champions Xie Xingfang， Sun Jun， Liu Yong and Xie Zhongbo specially took part; they were warmly greeted by local badminton fans.

Representatives of the business circles of the two countries took part in the China-Thailand golf friendship match. They made friends through the games and swapped tips on playing skills in playing， which further deepened mutual understanding and friendship.

The Chinese delegation presented a jade statue of Guanyin as a gift to express Chinese friendly feelings towards the Thai people. As Thailand is a Buddhist society， a decision was made to present a Jade statue of Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) to the country as a gift on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic relations after the CPAFFC consulted with the Liaoning Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Liaoning Provincial Government. On the morning of December 29， a ceremony of presenting and consecration was held. Eminent monks from both countries prayed for blessing. “This jade Buddhist statue gift presented to the Thai people on the occasion of 35 years of diplomatic relations expresses our sincere wishes for ever-lasting friendship between our two peoples and for their happiness and well-being as well as for world peace，” said Shi Guangsheng at the ceremony.