Joint Statement between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the People’s Republic of China

on Advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and Building a Thailand-China Community with a Shared Future for Enhanced Stability, Prosperity, and Sustainability

through a Forward-looking and People-Centred Vision

8 February 2025, Beijing

1. At the invitation of H.E. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, paid an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from 5 to 8 February 2025. This was the first among other high-level visits to take place within the year 2025, marking the 50^th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries under the theme of “the Golden Jubilee of Thailand-China Friendship.”

2. During the visit, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra paid a courtesy call on H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China. She also had a bilateral meeting with Premier Li Qiang and met with H.E. Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also attended the opening ceremony of the 9^th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province.

3. Both sides reaffirmed that Thailand and China are good neighbours, close relatives and trusted partners bound by mutual respect, commitment to mutual assistance, deep understanding, and shared vision for the future. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties on 1 July 1975 and the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in 2012, the two sides have consistently strengthened mutual trust, advanced mutually beneficial cooperation and deepened people-to-people exchanges, delivering tangible benefits to their peoples and contributing to the development and stability in both countries and the region. They also reaffirmed the commitment made during President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Thailand in 2022 to establish a Thailand-China Community with a Shared Future for enhanced stability, prosperity, and sustainability, and agreed to continue to advance this goal by further deepening bilateral cooperation.

4. The 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations serves as a milestone for both countries to maintain this positive momentum, further advance the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, and effectively address both traditional and emerging challenges through a forward-looking and people-centred vision. To this end, both sides would continue to maintain high-level interactions and foster closer exchanges among central and local governments, legislative bodies as well as other sectors. To celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Thailand-China diplomatic relations in 2025, both sides would foster bilateral cultural exchanges and mutual learning so as to ensure that the familial bonds reflected in the old saying “Thailand and China are as close as one family” are deeply ingrained in the hearts of two peoples.

5. Thailand commended China’s achievements and transformation in the new era under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, as well as its important contribution to safeguarding world peace, stability, and sustainable development. Thailand also congratulated China on successfully organising the 9^th Asian Winter Games and appreciated China’s positive role in promoting unity and friendship of the Asian family. The Chinese side commended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for Thailand’s remarkable achievements in promoting socio-economic development within a short period of time since she took office. The Chinese side expressed its firm support to the new government of Thailand led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and its readiness to synergise China’s development strategies and important Initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilisation Initiative, with Thailand’s development policies to advance their respective modernisation.

6. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuously supporting each other on issues involving their core interests and major concerns. China respects the national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Thailand, supports Thailand to take the development path suited to its national condition, and supports Thailand to play a greater role in dealing with global and regional affairs. Thailand firmly upholds the One-China Policy, recognising the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan as an inalienable part of China, and will not support any call for the independence of Taiwan. Thailand also supports China’s “One Country, Two Systems” policy.

7. Thailand and China would continue to promote cooperation on economic resilience, high-quality development, clean energy, digital economy, and green development, etc. The two sides would promote bilateral trade through enhancing market access, promoting high-quality products, and expanding e-commerce cooperation. In addition, both sides would continue to promote relevant pragmatic cooperation projects, including the pilot project on mutual protection of geographical indications, and combat intellectual property infringement. The two countries would also cooperate to enhance regulatory oversight on product standards and qualification assessment, quality and safety, and to encourage the use of electronic trade documents, so as to continuously enhance trade facilitation. Furthermore, Thailand and China would strengthen supply connectivity, particularly in semiconductor, electronic battery, EV, and advanced electronics industries. The two countries would encourage business-to-business exchanges, including participation in each other’s trade fairs, and would jointly promote and maintain a level playing field for trade. The two countries would enhance their bilateral cooperation on energy, particularly on clean energy development and energy transition, and continue to push forward relevant cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Energy Partnership. In promoting investment, Thailand also welcomed long-term investment partnerships, including capital market connectivity and facilitation of the cross-border financial products, and R&D cooperation with China, particularly in future-oriented, innovative, and advanced industries, such as artificial intelligence, health care, environmental industry, and EV. Both sides would speed up the negotiation of the Joint Action Plan under the Five-Year Development Plan on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the People’s Republic of China (2025-2029), and strive to reach an agreement at an early date.

8. Both sides recognised that enhanced connectivity would serve as a catalyst for economic integration and shared growth across the region, and concurred to expedite the construction of Phase 1 of the Thailand-China high-speed railway, finalise the cooperation mode and launch Phase 2 at an early date. The two sides stressed that the Thailand-Laos-China Connectivity Development Corridor Outlook should be implemented steadily to ensure an early seamless connection between the three countries. The two sides also agreed to work together to strengthen road and rail links, and optimise customs and SPS procedures. Moreover, both sides agreed to leverage Thailand’s strategic location, as the heart of mainland Southeast Asia, to enhance regional connectivity in all aspects, including infrastructure, logistics, regulatory, and digital connectivity, which would complement the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and promote regional connectivity.

9. Both sides would promote meaningful cooperation in science and technology, aiming to support new quality productive forces, boost competitiveness, and foster sustainable growth in the decades ahead. In particular, both sides agreed to step up cooperation on joint research and human resource development in the field of STI, such as agricultural technologies, health technology, and biotechnology, to adequately supply high-quality manpower in the long term, and promote the enhancement of their STI capabilities.

10. The two sides underlined the importance of people-to-people exchanges as a cornerstone of their bilateral ties, and agreed to enhance and expand practical cooperation in key areas such as culture, education, especially in improving vocational, socio-cultural and language skills, media and communication, sister cities, and soft power. Moreover, both sides agreed to further utilise the mutual visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders in facilitating people-to-people exchanges. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation on tourism through promoting high-quality tourism, new forms of tourism, and tourist safety, as well as encouraging airlines to increase direct flights between lesser-known cities of both countries. The two sides would encourage cooperation in media, press and publication, broadcasting, and film, etc., combat fake news and misinformation, and enhance correct understanding of both countries and friendship among their peoples, especially the younger generations.

11. On the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the Thailand-China diplomatic relations, Thailand appreciated China’s goodwill in allowing the Lord Buddha’s sacred Holy tooth relics from Lingguang Temple, Beijing, to be sojourned in Thailand which would help to enhance the traditional friendship and people-to-people relations between the two countries. Furthermore, China would give a favourable consideration to Thailand’s request for continuing international Panda research cooperation, and both sides would make preparations for this cooperation in accordance with relevant international standards.

12. Both sides reiterated their commitment to promoting regional peace and stability through enhanced traditional and non-traditional security cooperation, including military-to-military exchanges at various levels, joint military exercises and training, cooperation in defense industry, capacity building, personnel training, and technology transfer.

13. The two sides stressed the urgency and necessity of stepping up cooperation, both bilaterally and through Mekong-Lancang Cooperation and other existing regional frameworks, such as the cooperation in patrol and law enforcement operations along Mekong River among Thailand, China, Lao PDR, and Myanmar, to combat trans-boundary crimes, such as human trafficking, online scams, cybercrimes, drug trafficking, illegal online gambling, and money laundering, with a firm stance of zero tolerance. The two sides would discuss further to identify appropriate coordinating mechanisms to effectively combat telecommunication frauds and illegal online gambling at an early date. Both sides agreed to participate more actively in the “Safe Mekong Operation,” and jointly promote cooperation in the field of justice process among Mekong-Lancang countries, to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property in the region.

14. Both sides called for collaborative efforts to combat climate change and address air pollution. Furthermore, the two sides agreed to promote cooperation to elevate the livelihoods of their peoples by exchanging best practices and aligning efforts on poverty alleviation and rural development, as well as disaster prevention, preparedness, and mitigation.

15. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting health cooperation to address common health challenges and enhance health security, health technology and traditional medicine, among the others, through the MOU in the field of health.

16. Both sides reiterated their commitment to upholding ASEAN Centrality, strengthening ASEAN-led mechanism, promoting an open and inclusive regional architecture, as well as fostering regional development and cooperation. The two countries agreed to jointly build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home, and advance the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to build a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

17. Both sides agreed to further promote the high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), expressed support for Hong Kong’s accession to RCEP, and looked forward to an early conclusion and signing of the ASEAN-China FTA 3.0 Upgrade Protocol in 2025. The two countries would promote mutually beneficial cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and BRI, while exploring new opportunities for cooperation under the Global Development Initiative to drive forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

18. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, and stability in the South China Sea and the need to pursue peaceful resolution of disputes. Both sides would continue to work with other ASEAN member states with shared commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, as well as the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in accordance with international law.

19. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing sub-regional cooperation through existing frameworks such as Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), and the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program (GMS). As co-chairs of MLC, the two sides would leverage the upcoming leaders’ meeting in Thailand to deepen regional cooperation, including in connectivity, water resources management, technological innovation, and digital economy, and join hands to tackle pressing challenges, including air pollution and transboundary crimes. The Thai side looked forward to welcoming Chinese leader to attend this important event.

20. The two countries agreed that Thailand and China have broad common interests and similar positions in international affairs. Both sides would firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Both sides would safeguard international fairness and justice, stand for unity and cooperation of the international community, and promote humanity’s common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom. Both sides would safeguard the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core that is open, transparent, inclusive, and non-discriminatory, actively push forward WTO reforms, and make economic globalisation more open, inclusive, balanced, and beneficial for all. Furthermore, the two sides would further strengthen strategic communication in multilateral fora, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), BRICS, and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). In this regard, China congratulated Thailand on becoming BRICS Partner, and Thailand looked forward to China’s active support for Thailand’s bid to join BRICS as a full member. Moreover, Thailand also expressed full support for China’s offer to host APEC in 2026, and looked forward to working with APEC members toward a successful year with meaningful outcomes.

21. During the visit, the two sides signed cooperation documents on economic development, digital economy, AI, customs facilitation and market access (farmed aquatic products), nuclear technology, lunar exploration, green development, postal service, press and media, etc.

22. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her sincere appreciation to the Chinese side for the warm hospitality extended to her and the Thai delegation. She also invited Chinese leaders to visit Thailand at a mutually convenient time. The Chinese leaders appreciated the invitation and accepted it with pleasure.

-------------------------