BRI will pave way for even closer Thailand-China relations

Editor’s Note:

As the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings this year, Thailand has been fostering cordial connections and expanding commerce with China. Thai experts are optimistic that the APEC and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will pave the way for even closer ties between their countries in the near future. They also discussed the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Thailand and the opportunities it will bring to both countries.

Sitthiphon Kruarattikan, associate professor of history and former director of Thammasat University's Institute of East Asian Studies, has reflected on his time spent in China and shared his thoughts with People’s Daily Online about the future of China-Thailand ties.

A journey to China

I visited China for the first time as a tourist in 1996. Visiting historical places in Beijing made me realize and admire the greatness and continuity of the Chinese civilization.

I visited the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, and although they were built in the Ming Dynasty in the 15th century, the rituals, customs, and beliefs that appeared in these places can be traced back several thousand years to the Xia-Shang-Zhou eras. What I realized when visiting them is not only the greatness and longevity of the Chinese civilization, but also its emphasis on harmony between human and nature.

That is why I chose to study Chinese at the Beijing Language and Culture University in 2004. I have visited China more often since 2010 and have noticed that China has changed tremendously into a modernized socialist nation with more active roles in global affairs.

The rapid growth of high-speed railways in China is an example of national modernization. I remember when I studied Chinese in Beijing during the early 2000s, it took almost two days of travelling by train from Beijing to southern provinces like Yunnan and Guangdong, but now most of the major cities in China can be reached within hours by high-speed trains.

Regarding China’s role in global affairs, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013 is an obvious example showing that China is ready to become a leading force in global economic development.

Thriving ties between China and Thailand

Since 1975, Thailand and China have maintained cordial relations. The two nations do not have serious disputes. Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn often visits China and was bestowed with the Friendship Medal of the PRC in 2019. Also, Chinese has become the most popular foreign language among Thai students during the past decade.

China's BRI aims to improve connectivity between China and the world through infrastructure investment and cooperation. The initiative has the potential to significantly accelerate global economic integration and development.

However, some of the most anticipated BRI projects in Thailand are still not materialized because of obstacles and difficulties from the Thai side, especially the high-speed railway linking Thailand and Laos. The general public in Thailand agrees that linkage and connectivity between China and Southeast Asia would be beneficial for both national and regional economies.

I also think that relations between the younger generations of the two countries must be enhanced. The bright future of Sino-Thai relations could not be realized without mutual understanding between them.

I think APEC members should focus on accelerating regional economic integration. I believe economic interdependence would gradually create a spillover effect leading to the amelioration of regional tensions.