Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea, calling for more solid progress in building a China-Thailand community with a shared future.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.
During the meeting, Xi first extended deep condolences over the passing of Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit and asked Anutin to convey his sincere sympathies to King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua.
Xi said that China and Thailand are good neighbors, friends, relatives and partners who visit each other as often as a close family.
Xi said since his last visit to Thailand in November 2022, the development of bilateral relations has entered a new phase of building a China-Thailand community with a shared future, with the friendship further consolidated and cooperation becoming more dynamic.
Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and also the "Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship," Xi said the two sides should build on past achievements to open a new chapter, jointly push for more solid progress in building a China-Thailand community with a shared future, and boost each other's modernization process, so as to make greater contributions to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.
China stands ready to strengthen the synergy of development strategies with Thailand and share its development experience, Xi said, calling for accelerating the construction of the China-Thailand railway and boosting cooperation in such areas as agricultural product trade, green economy, and digital innovation.
Xi also called for deepening tourism, youth, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Both countries, Xi continued, need to step up efforts to crack down on such cross-border crimes as online gambling and telecom fraud, so as to create a safe environment for bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
In the face of a turbulent and complex international situation, China is ready to work with Thailand on the implementation of the Global Governance Initiative, uphold international fairness and justice, and safeguard the common interests of the Global South, Xi said.
For his part, Anutin said Thailand deeply appreciates President Xi extending condolences over Queen Mother Sirikit's passing.
Calling the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries an important milestone, the prime minister said Thailand will take the opportunity to maintain closer high-level exchanges with China, strengthen cooperation in sectors such as economy and trade, science and technology, connectivity and tourism, and jointly push Thai-China relations to new heights.
Anutin said Thailand will continue to crack down hard on online gambling and telecom fraud.
He said the four major global initiatives put forward by President Xi demonstrate China's role as a responsible major country in international affairs, which Thailand highly appreciates and actively supports.
Thailand is ready to enhance multilateral coordination with China and work with China to promote regional peace, stability and prosperity, said Anutin.
Xi calls for more solid progress in building China-Thailand community with shared future
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that mediation efforts of the Pakistani side regarding the Middle East tensions are in the common interests of all parties.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in his talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing.
During their talks, the two sides exchanged views on current international issues and regional conflicts.
Wang welcomed the visit of the Pakistani side to Beijing for discussion on easing tensions in the Middle East, just after its holding of a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad.
He said China supports and looks forward to Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation and resuming peace talks. This process is no easy task, and Pakistan's mediation efforts are in line with the common interests of all parties, Wang added.
He noted China is willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan to end the hostilities as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks.
On bilateral ties, Wang said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, calling on both sides to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and constantly advance the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
For his part, Dar said the Pakistan-China friendship is precious and deeply rooted in people's hearts, adding that Pakistan is willing to work with China to promote the continuous development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Dar thanked China for supporting Pakistan's mediation of the situation in Iran, adding that the current conflict has disrupted international energy supplies and caused heavy damage to developing countries.
Noting that solutions can only be found through negotiation, Dar said Pakistan is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to push all parties to start peace talks as soon as possible and restore regional peace.
The two sides also put forward a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East region:
I. Immediate cessation of hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.
II. Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.
III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law, and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
IV. Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the United Nations, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
