Thailand, China Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

BANGKOK, June 28 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha co-chaired a function celebrating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China. The event was held Saturday night at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani and was also attended by Chinese ambassador to Thailand Ning Fukui, the chief of Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and businessmen. Ambassador Ning told participants that since both countries established diplomatic relations on July 1, 1975; there had been no interference in each other’s affairs and China had remained Thailand’s largest trading partner. Ambassador Ning said China would continue to cooperate with Thailand through many areas, including on the rail system from Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi- Nong Khai and from Kaeng Khoi to Map Ta Phut deep seaport although there the investment share had yet been decided. Up to 4.6 million Chinese tourists had visited Thailand annually, making Chinese tourists the largest tourist group in Thailand. General Prayut, meanwhile, said he expected the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand would increase to 6 million annually in the future because Thailand and China were good friends and that he had officially visited China twice since his government came into power. The Thai Prime Minister said both visits had achieved great success in various fields including cooperation in railway development, agriculture, money and banking. He also said there had been a planned meeting with Chinese government leaders again this September. (TNA)