Xi calls for China and Thailand to strengthen ties to address external uncertainties
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The talks between Mr Xi Jinping and Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra come as Beijing is navigating a new trade war with the United States.
PHOTO: MS PAETONGTAM SHINAWATRA/FACBEOOK
Follow topic:
BEIJING - China’s President Xi Jinping said in a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Beijing on Feb 6 that the two countries should deepen their trust in each other and expand cooperation to counter growing uncertainties in the world.
Mr Xi cited projects such as a high-speed railway that will link Bangkok with south-western China’s Kunming, adding that the digital economy and electric vehicles were areas where the countries could cooperate more.
“In the face of unprecedented changes not seen for 100 years, China and Thailand should deepen mutual trust over strategic interests and firmly support each other,” China Central Television quoted Mr Xi as saying.
His remarks follow US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose fresh tariffs of 10 per cent on Chinese imports.
Ms Paetongtarn is on an official visit to China from Feb 5 to 8, marking her first visit to Beijing since taking office in August 2024.
The four-day visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations, which are currently overshadowed by issues such as online fraud and safety concerns.
Online fraud and safety concerns have been at the forefront of issues that have been pain points between the two countries, particularly after Chinese actor Wang Xing went to Thailand for what he thought was an acting job but was abducted and later rescued from a scam centre in Myanmar.
Thailand, concerned about the impact on its vital tourism sector, has sought to allay safety concerns among the Chinese, who constitute the largest group of visitors to the South-east Asian nation.
“The safety of people and tourists visiting Thailand is the government’s highest priority,” Ms Paetongtarn said, adding that both nations would cooperate on a warning system to fight crime.
“Thailand is ready to work with China to suppress criminal activity that passes through Thailand.”
On Feb 4, the Thai government said it would cut electricity supply to some border areas with Myanmar in an attempt to curb illegal scam centres.
South-east Asia, especially border towns in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, has become a hub for telecom and other online fraud since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the United Nations, which says hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked to work in scam centres.
Mr Xi said China appreciates the measures taken by Thailand to combat online gambling and telecom fraud, and the two sides should continue to “strengthen law enforcement, security and judicial cooperation to safeguard people’s lives and property”.
In November 2024, Thai Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said the country had a good balance between the US and China and expects to benefit from the trade war as Thai exports to the US would increase because the US would be taking fewer imports from China. REUTERS
