Thai prime minister pledges continued efforts to deepen friendship, cooperation with China

Thailand attaches great importance to the development of relations with China, visiting Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Thursday, pledging her country's continued efforts to enhance mutual support with China and to work hand in hand with China to advance the bilateral relationship into a next "Golden 50 Years" .

In an exclusive interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Beijing, Paetongtarn emphasized Thailand's strong commitment to fostering its relationship with China and highlighted the deep friendship between the two countries, as China and Thailand will mark in 2025 the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, and also the "Golden 50 Years of China-Thailand Friendship" since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

"Thailand and China enjoy similar cultures. The two countries are very agreeable in communication, cooperation and understanding of each other's culture. Thailand has always supported China's development, just as China has supported Thailand's development. This spirit of mutual support is an important foundation for sustained development of our bilateral relationship in the future," said Paetongtarn.

Paetongtarn also discussed the latest progress on the China-Thailand High-Speed Railway (HSR). She noted that the railway will greatly facilitate trade among China, Thailand, and Laos. With the continuous improvement and upgrading of the railway project, exchanges and cooperation between the peoples of China and Thailand will become even more frequent.

"On Tuesday, the Thai Cabinet approved the resolution on construction of the Korat-Nong Khai high-speed rail, as part of the Bangkok-Nong Khai high-speed rail, or the second phase of the China-Thailand High-Speed Railway (HSR). The construction of this railway will greatly facilitate trade among China, Thailand, and Laos. As a result, the connections between Thailand and China at all levels will also become closer, and exchanges and cooperation between the peoples of our two countries will become more frequent. In the near future, I believe that people can take train for travel between the two countries more easily," she said. Paetongtarn noted that combating telecom fraud, gambling, and transnational crime is one of the key topics of her visit. As the Thai prime minister, Paetongtarn said she focuses on ensuring Thailand's security and maintaining regular communication with the country's police, military, and other departments.

"I have been in regular communication with various departments of the Thai police to ensure the safety of every tourist who visits Thailand. Cybercrime is a global issue because it spreads rapidly and can cause significant damage in a short period of time. This requires cooperation among all nations. Thailand will work closely with China to address these issues, and I believe we will see significant improvements," said Paetongtarn.

Paetongtarn arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a four-day official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. On Friday evening, she attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games alongside Thai government officials in Harbin City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

Thai prime minister pledges continued efforts to deepen friendship, cooperation with China

Thai prime minister pledges continued efforts to deepen friendship, cooperation with China

Thai prime minister pledges continued efforts to deepen friendship, cooperation with China

China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) reviewed a record number of new drug registration applications in 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 16.2 percent, with antineoplastic drugs accounting for the largest share, according to the administration.

In 2024, the NMPA evaluated a total of 18,259 drug registration applications, a figure that reflects the vitality of China's innovation in drug research and development.

"The record number of reviewed drug applications is a clear sign of China's rapidly growing biopharmaceutical industry. The approval of high-quality new drugs not only gives Chinese patients more and better treatment options, but also shows China's increasing role in the global pharmaceutical market, offering more Chinese solutions to patients around the world," said Yuan Lijia, a staff member at the Center for Drug Evaluation under the NMPA.

Notably, in 2024, applications for clinical trial and market approval of new anti-tumor drugs ranked first among all chemical drugs and biologics, accounting for even half of the total.

"In 2024, anti-tumor drugs made up the largest share of approved clinical trial applications, with over 41 percent being chemical drugs and more than 55 percent being biologics. Throughout the year, anti-tumor drugs also led in the number of innovative drugs approved, with both chemical drugs and biologics surpassing 36 percent," said Geng Ying, an official with the center.

In 2024, China approved the market entry of 48 innovative drugs and 65 innovative medical devices. Its number of drugs in development ranked second globally, and several domestically developed drugs gained approval for global markets.

China's new drug registration applications hit record high in 2024