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Remarks of Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand upon Media Inquiries.
2023-03-02 12:05

Recently, some Thai media inquired the Embassy spokesperson on China-Thailand economic and trade cooperation and personnel exchanges. The relevant questions and answers are as follows:

Q: How do you view the current China-Thailand relations? How is the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries?

A: China and Thailand are good neighbors, good partners and good brothers. In recent years, the two countries have helped each other in the face of Covid-19 and overcome difficulties together. The kinship of "China-Thailand family" has grown deeper in people’s hearts. Last year, President Xi Jinping paid a successful visit to Thailand and had cordial and friendly meetings with King Vajiralongkorn and with Prime Minister Prayut. The two countries announced efforts to build a more stable, prosperous and sustainable China-Thailand community with a shared future, charting the course for the development of bilateral relations in the new era. With the further control of the pandemic, bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields will usher in a new climax.

China is Thailand's largest trading partner and largest export destination for agricultural products. In 2022, the trade volume between China and Thailand reached US$135 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3%; Thai agricultural products export to China reached US$12.6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6%. Also in 2022, China became Thailand's largest source of foreign investment, with a sum of 77.381 billion baht.  China-Thailand economic and trade relations, based on the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, have brought huge tangible benefits to the development of the two countries and the well-being of the two peoples.

Q: Recently there have been some negative reports about some Chinese being involved in local gray businesses. What is China’s take on this?

A: China has always required overseas Chinese citizens and companies to strictly abide by the laws and customs of the country where they are, operate legally, and actively give back to the local society. And so they have done. Chinese citizens and enterprises in Thailand are well recognized for their passion in social welfare and charity activities and great contributions to Thailand's economic development.

I have noticed relevant reports from the local media recently. We support the Thai side in dealing with the suspected illegal activities of some individual Chinese citizens in Thailand in accordance with the law. The law enforcement agencies of China and Thailand have cooperated closely in combating cross-border crimes such as online gambling and fraud. It should be made clear that the suspected illegal acts are only committed by a small number of individuals and by no means represent the mainstream of Chinese citizens and enterprises in Thailand. Thus, it is untenable to leverage these issues to question the sound economic and trade cooperation and personnel exchanges between China and Thailand. What deserves vigilance is that some third-party forces try to use this issue to discredit China and undermine the friendly cooperation between China and Thailand. We firmly oppose this and will work with Thai people to maintain the sound development momentum of our bilateral relations.

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