BANGKOK, July 1 (TNA) – Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, reaffirming their shared commitment to mutual progress.
The elaborate ceremony, held last night, featured activities and exhibitions highlighting the historical bond and cooperation between Thailand and China, spanning both peaceful and challenging times.
The event saw a large gathering of prominent figures from the fields of foreign affairs, politics, and diplomacy. Attendees included Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister; Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice; Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Social Development and Human Security; and Dr. Tej Bunnag, Secretary-General of the Thai Red Cross Society, who is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and a former Thai Ambassador to Beijing (1986-1990). Dr. Tej was a key figure behind the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Also present were former Thai Ambassadors to Beijing, Julpong Nonsrichai and Viboon Khusakul.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa lauded the robust relationship, stating that the decision to establish diplomatic ties with China 50 years ago was “the right one” and a significant achievement for the Thai Foreign Ministry. He emphasized that 50 years of bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation have transformed Thailand and China into comprehensive strategic partners, built on trust and interdependence, leading to prosperity and well-being for their peoples.
Wu Zhiwu, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, remarked that despite facing challenges together over the past five decades, Thailand and China have maintained steady progress. He attributed this to the dedication of the Thai Royal Family and leaders from both countries, who have pledged to build an even more secure, prosperous, and sustainable China-Thailand community with a shared future. Wu stressed that regardless of global fluctuations, Thailand and China would remain committed to mutual respect and equal treatment.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai highlighted the strong economic cooperation between the two nations, citing trade figures for 2024 reaching 4 trillion baht. In terms of security, Thailand and China have collaborated on combating transnational crime and online scams. Furthermore, both countries share deep socio-cultural ties, boasting the world’s highest number of sister cities at 40 pairs, with plans to increase this to 50 by the end of the year to foster comprehensive local-level people-to-people connections.
Thailand and the People’s Republic of China officially established diplomatic relations on July 1, 1975, when then-Thai Prime Minister M.R. Kukrit Pramoj and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai jointly signed the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Kingdom of Thailand. -819 (TNA)
