On the auspicious occasion of the New Year 2021, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, warmest greetings to the people of Thailand as well as friends from all walks of life who have been committed to and supportive of the China-Thailand friendship.
The year 2020 is a milestone in China’s national development. China has successfully fulfilled the historic mission of ending extreme poverty within the set time frame, and secured decisive achievements in finishing the building of a well-off society comprehensively. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee established the guiding principle for China’s economic and social development in the 14th Five-Year Plan period and long-range objectives to be reached by 2035, cementing the groundwork for China’s new journey of building a great modern socialist country across the board. China is among the first to successfully contain the COVID-19 pandemic, and the only major economy to register positive economic growth this year, injecting strong confidence and impetus to the global economic recovery and growth. We successfully held the third China International Import Expo, and witnessed the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which contributed substantively to fostering an open global economy. Amid unprecedented global changes and the once-in-a-century pandemic, we have been committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind, working in concert with other countries against the pandemic, firmly upholding multilateralism and the central role of the UN in international affairs, and sharing the Chinese wisdom in bridging the global governance deficit.
The year 2020 is an extraordinary year in China-Thailand relations. We solemnly celebrated the 45th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, witnessing continuously strengthened political mutual trust, expanded economic and trade cooperation, and enhanced people-to-people exchanges, all of which are testaments to our fruitful cooperation in various areas and represent a leading example in China’s relationship with ASEAN countries. In July 2020, President Xi Jinping of China had a phone conversation with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha of Thailand, during which the two leaders reached new consensus in strengthening the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and provided new vigor and guidance for its further development. In October, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi of China paid an official visit to Thailand upon invitation, the first foreign minister to do so since the outbreak of COVID-19. In our joint efforts to contain COVID-19, our two countries as well as our two peoples have been weathering difficult periods together and sharing weal and woe, fully exemplifying through concrete actions that “China and Thailand are as close as one family”, and we have been contributing to global anti-pandemic efforts. As of October 2020, our two-way trade increased by 9.6% year on year despite the downward trend of the sluggish world economy. The first three quarters saw the number of Chinese application for investment promotion projects in Thailand reach 129, and the investment volume in Thailand reach 21.2 billion baht. The 2-3 contract of railway construction has been signed and cooperation in 5G, e-commerce and vaccination has also been accelerated. Standing the test of the pandemic, our bilateral relationship has been elevated to a new level.
As we embrace the new year, we are happy to be greeted by wider cooperation prospects and more fruitful progress between our two sides. I am convinced that our continued joint efforts will further expand the convergence of interests and achieve more glorious results. Let us join hands to deliver more tangible benefits to our two countries and peoples through concrete actions and jointly forge a better future for China and Thailand.
May all of you happiness, prosperity and well-being in the coming new year!
May China-Thailand friendship last forever and continue to flourish!
May we achieve an early victory against COVID-19 and everybody in Thailand enjoy good health!