Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

On July 11th, the celebration activities for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of Yunnan Provincial People's Government, the Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Foreign Friendship, and the Consulate General of Thailand in Kunming, with the co-organization of the Foreign Affairs Office of Kunming Municipal People's Government, were held in Kunming. Deputy Governor Xu Hao and Consul General of Thailand in Kunming, Praweewan, attended the reception and delivered speeches. Officials from the Consulates General of Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Bangladesh in Kunming, relevant departments of the Yunnan Provincial People's Government, people's organizations, foreign affairs offices of cities and prefectures, relevant universities, enterprises, media, Thai enterprises in Yunnan, financial institutions, experts and scholars, and representatives of international students participated in the activities, totaling about 100 people.

China and Thailand enjoy a millennium-old friendship, and the“one family”ties between the two peoples are as fresh as ever. On July 1, 1975, the two countries established diplomatic relations. Over the past 50 years, the two countries have always adhered to mutual respect, equality, sincere trust, and mutual assistance, setting an example for friendly cooperation among developing countries. Yunnan Province is the closest province in China to Thailand. The two regions share geographical, people-to-people, business, and cultural ties, and serve as an important window for China’s opening-up to Thailand. Over the years, Yunnan has established multiple cooperation mechanisms with Thailand, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, facilitating more convenient connectivity, and promoting closer people-to-people exchanges.

At the banquet, Vice Governor Xu Hao stated that Yunnan Province will thoroughly implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and Thai leaders, with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity, to work with Thailand to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, continuously deepen policy communication, and improve the level of strategic alignment; continuously strengthen infrastructure connectivity, building an efficient and convenient interconnection network; continuously promote trade facilitation, better empowering the economic development of both countries; and continuously enhance people-to-people exchanges, deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and promote the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Thailand to go deeper and more solid.

Ambassador Prawat highly praised the relations between China and Thailand, and praised the important role of Yunnan Province in promoting China-Thailand relations. He stated that China and Thailand have a世代 friendly relationship that has lasted for thousands of years. The 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand is a new starting point for continuing the friendly relations between the two countries. Thailand is willing to continue to deepen cooperation with China and Yunnan in all fields, consolidate traditional friendship, create a more dynamic and effective partnership, promote the construction of a China-Thailand community of destiny, and inject lasting impetus into the prosperity and development of the region.

During the symposium, the Yunnan Provincial Association for Foreign Friendship, the Publicity Department of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee, the Yunnan Provincial Department of Transport, the Yunnan Provincial Department of Commerce, the Yunnan Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce, Yunnan Normal University, Yunnan Energy Investment Group, the Xishuangbanna State Foreign Affairs Office, the Consulate General of Thailand in Kunming, the Kunming Branch of泰京银行, and the Thailand National Tourism Organization Office in Kunming reviewed the friendly course of bilateral exchanges and cooperation, including international friendly cities, people-to-people exchanges, connectivity, economic and trade cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, financial and trade, and mutual visits in tourism, and looked forward to a bright future for Yunnan-Thailand cooperation. They also proposed cooperation suggestions. The participants unanimously affirmed and praised the fruitful results of practical exchanges and cooperation between Yunnan and Thailand, and expressed their willingness to carry forward the friendship between China and Thailand, to tap into the potential of Yunnan-Thailand cooperation, and to push the exchanges and cooperation in various fields to a new level, benefiting the people of both countries and contributing to the construction of a more stable, prosperous, and sustainable China-Thailand community of shared destiny.

Youth artists and students from both countries delivered a splendid cultural performance, showcasing the charm of the integration of Chinese and Thai cultures and the friendship between the two peoples through artistic forms, creating a friendly and warm atmosphere on the spot.