On 28 – 30 March 2019, H.E. Mr. Chen Hao, Secretary of Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of Yunnan Provincial People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, paid an official visit to Thailand as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kingdom of Thailand. 

 

On 28 March 2019, H.E. Mr. Chen Hao called on H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand. Both sides exchanged views and discussed ways forward to further promote concrete cooperation between Thailand and Yunnan Province, as well as topics of mutual interest.

 

Both sides applauded the close relationship between Thailand and Yunnan Province, which M.R. Kukrit Pramoj, former Prime Minister of Thailand, had visited during his official visit to China to establish diplomatic relations between Thailand and China in 1975. Both sides also recognized this year as the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Thai Consulate – General in Kunming and agreed that the dynamic cooperation between Thailand and Yunnan will play an important role in strengthening the strategic partnership between Thailand and China.

 

Both sides agreed to encourage the exchange of visits at all levels and emphasised the importance of mutual cooperation that synergises with the development strategies of Thailand, China, and Yunnan Province, particularly in areas of potential such as economy, trade, investment, transportation, energy, connectivity, high technology, information technology, digital, innovation, social, culture, education, tourism and health. The Yunnan side highlighted sister cities cooperation and expressed interest to encourage investors from Yunnan to invest in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) of Thailand, as well as to link the EEC and the Dian Zhong New Area of Yunnan Province. The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that both sides should take advantage of the 7th Thailand (Northern Region) – Yunnan Working Group Meeting that will take place in the second half of this year to further follow up on the cooperation between Thailand and Yunnan Province. Moreover, the Thai side hoped that the visit of H.E. Mr. Chen Hao would help boost further cooperation between the private sectors of Thailand and Yunnan Province.

 

The two ministers recognised the geographical advantages of both Thailand and Yunnan in the region. H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai provided insights on how Yunnan could be constructively linked to the other countries in the region in support of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), particularly in connection with the Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), thereby further connecting to other countries such as Laos, Myanmar and India, as well as Thailand – Laos – China. Thailand is pursuing its policy of connecting the connectivities and also looks forward to enhancing connectivity with China through the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). These provinces of China have shown their enthusiasm to engage with Thailand.

 

Both sides discussed the role of Yunnan Province in the Mekong – Lancang Cooperation (MLC), and the Thai Foreign Minister emphasized the importance and essence of the Mekong River as the “river of life,” extending beyond commercial purposes. The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to the Chinese government, especially H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, the State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, who had discussed this issue with him and reached a mutual understanding that any projects that may affect the way of life of the peoples along the river should be suspended. The Thai Foreign Minister also expressed his thanks to the Secretary of Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of Yunnan Provincial People’s Congress for agreeing to refrain from such projects so as to maintain the significance and value of the Mekong River. In response, H.E. Mr. Chen Hao reiterated that the Yunnan Government’s policy was to cooperate and preserve the Mekong River. 

 

After the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand hosted a dinner in honour of H.E. Mr. Chen Hao in a cordial atmosphere. Both sides continued their fruitful discussions and the video introducing the EEC’s potential was also presented to the Yunnan delegation during the dinner.