On 4 February 2020, at 20.30 hrs., the special flight operated by Thai Air Asia to bring back Thais in Wuhan and Hubei, China, safely landed at U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport with 138 Thais from Wuhan and Hubei. Also on board were seven medical personnel from the Ministry of Public Health, two officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and three officials from the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing, earlier dispatched to Wuhan to facilitate the return of the Thais in Wuhan and Hubei. All passengers and crew travelling with this flight passed through screening procedure for signs and symptoms associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus, as required by the Ministry of Public Health.

On the same occasion, the special flight carried a shipment of supplies, graciously granted by His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, which includes face masks, gloves, disposable gowns and Vitamin C, as well as supplies provided by the Royal Thai Government, including face masks and gloves, to deliver to the government and the people of China. This mission also reflects the Thai people’s sympathy and well-wishes for the Chinese.

As lead agency for the operation team composed of relevant government and private agencies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to express its gratitude and appreciation to the personnel and all relevant agencies, who dedicated themselves in successfully bringing back Thais to Thailand. This success helps to bring relief to the Thai public. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to also extend its gratitude to the Chinese side, both at the central and provincial levels, as well as the Chinese friends including business owners, administrators of academic institutions, and the Chinese people in general, for kindly facilitating the Thais in Wuhan and Hubei to travel to Wuhan airport as they made their way home.             

For the three Thai nationals who did not meet the criteria required by the authorities to board the aircraft, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing to coordinate with relevant Chinese agencies to take good care of them. The Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing is ready to continue giving necessary assistance and advice to the Thais remaining in the area.         

This mission reflects the best of the long-standing relations and empathy between the two peoples. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to extend moral support and encouragement to the Chinese side in overcoming this situation and for a rapid recovery.

On the same day, at 19.30 hrs., H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand had a telephone conversation with H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China. Minister Don expressed appreciation to the Chinese side for the facilitation given which made the mission by the Thai authorities to bring Thai nationals back home [from Wuhan and nearby areas affected by the novel coronavirus 2019] a success. He also requested the Chinese side to take good care of Thais who remain in Wuhan and elsewhere in China. In addition, the Thai Foreign Minister asked his counterpart to convey the best wishes and moral support of the Thai people to the Chinese people, especially those residing in Hubei province and Wuhan city. The Foreign Minister stressed Thailand’s confidence in the measures and actions taken by the Chinese side which will help China to successfully overcome the current situation. On his part, the State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China expressed the Chinese side’s deep appreciation and gratitude for Their Majesties the  King and Queen of Thailand for the Royal Message and relief items provided to the Chinese Government and people. The State Councilor also thanked the Prime Minister and the Government of Thailand for the assistance and support given to the Chinese side.  Noting that the Chinese side still recalls the close cooperation between China, Thailand and other ASEAN Member Countries in tackling the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003, he expressed his belief that all the countries will cooperate as in the past in order to successfully overcome the existing challenges.