Editor's note: 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China. In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang said that the two countries are emphasizing the alignment of development strategies, deepening cooperation in emerging economic and technological fields, and making preparations for the historic state visit of the Thailand's King to China in the second half of this year.

Recently, the telecom fraud along the Thai-Myanmar border has drawn much attention. As China, Myanmar and Thailand have stepped up their crackdown on telecom fraud compounds, those compounds in Myanmar have successively released about 7,000 people from more than 20 countries. 

Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told reporters that the government plans to repatriate 1,500 people per week, or 300 each weekday, with "regular repatriations of Chinese nationals every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday," according to the AFP.

Han said China appreciates Thailand's effort for taking strong measures to dismantle telecom fraud gangs and safeguard the lives and property of citizens of China and other countries. China will continue to deepen law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries, including Thailand, step up efforts to combat cross-border criminal activities such as telecom fraud, online gambling, and human trafficking, fully assist in the investigation, search, rescue and release of missing and trapped people, and effectively safeguard the lives, property and legitimate rights and interests of the people.

GT: In February this year, Prime Minister of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra paid her first official visit to China after assuming office. What do you think is the significance of this visit? What are your expectations for the future of China-Thailand relations?

Han: From February 5th to 8th, the Thailand Prime Minister paid her first official visit to China and attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin. The visit yielded fruitful results. This visit took place at the beginning of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand and the "golden jubilee" of their friendship. The leaders of the two countries had in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues, and reached important consensuses.

During Paetongtarn's visit, the leaders of the two countries reaffirmed their mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. 

China supports Thailand in following a development path that suits its national conditions, and Thailand reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle and its non-support for "Taiwan independence." The two sides emphasized the need to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation in emerging economic and technological fields, and prepare for the historic state visit of the Thailand's King to China in the second half of this year.

Thai PM's visit has further strengthened the political mutual trust between China and Thailand and further consolidated the foundation for the two countries to jointly build a community with a shared future.

Paetongtarn's visit has also injected strong impetus into practical cooperation. China has been Thailand's largest trading partner, its largest export market for agricultural products, and also its main source of foreign investment and foreign tourists for 12 consecutive years. 

Cooperation between the two countries has been booming. During the visit, the leaders of the two countries witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents, and discussed strengthening connectivity under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, deepening cooperation in the industrial and supply chain, enhancing law enforcement security and judicial cooperation, as well as expanding cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy and new energy vehicles. 

It has promoted a new upsurge in people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The Sacred Buddha Relic, a revered symbol of Buddhist devotion housed at Beijing's Lingguang Temple, was temporarily enshrined in Thailand from December 5, 2024, to February 14, 2025, which received a warm response from all sectors of Thai society. 

During the Spring Festival, Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana held a Spring Festival ancestor worship ceremony. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand attended the celebration activities in Bangkok's Chinatown, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn issued a Chinese New Year greeting message using AI. 

During Paetongtarn's visit, the two sides unanimously agreed to explore international cooperation on giant pandas, deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as culture, tourism, education, and sports, and continuously promote mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries, so that the China-Thailand friendship can be passed down from generation to generation.

Against the backdrop of the accelerated evolution of the profound changes unseen in a century, the sluggish global economic recovery, and the rising trends of protectionism and unilateralism, the two countries are faced with common external challenges and share common interests and similar views on many international and regional issues. 

China and Thailand need to strengthen coordination in safeguarding international fairness and justice, upholding the multilateral trading system, and promoting the improvement of global economic governance. 

During Thai PM's visit, the Thailand side clearly expressed its support for China's initiatives, including jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. 

The two sides agreed to strengthen strategic communication under multilateral platforms such as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the BRICS countries, and the Asian Cooperation Dialogue. The friendly cooperation between China and Thailand will help the two countries jointly address global risks and challenges, and make positive contributions to regional and world peace, stability and prosperity.  

Looking ahead, we are confident in the bright prospects of China and Thailand jointly building a community with a shared future. 

First, we will maintain close high-level exchanges and dialogues, deepen strategic communication, jointly address external risks and challenges, and continuously advance the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future in a deeper and more practical manner. 

Second, we will implement the important consensuses reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen cooperation in connectivity, economic and trade investment, green development, the digital economy, and other fields, boost the modernization process of our respective countries, promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and create a more substantial and significant next "golden jubilee" of China-Thailand friendship. 

Third, we will strengthen regional multilateral communication, deepen cooperation under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework, China-ASEAN cooperation, and cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, contribute to maintaining regional peace and stability, promote the pooling of strength among countries in the "Global South," and work toward building a more just and reasonable global governance system.

GT: Thailand's cabinet recently approved the second phase of the high-speed rail project that will connect the Southeast Asian country with China through Laos, with completion expected in 2030. The China-Thailand Railway is an important cooperation project under the Belt and Road Initiative between the two countries. Could you share this project's latest progress? And what impact will this project have on the economies of the two countries?

Han: During Paetongtarn's visit, leaders of the two countries reached important consensuses on the proper implementation of flagship projects such as the China-Thailand Railway and on promoting the early achievement of more results in the concept of the connected development among China, Laos and Thailand. 

The Thai side stated that it will accelerate the construction of the first phase of the China-Thailand Railway and will launch the second phase within this year. China highly commended this and will provide assistance.

The China-Thailand Railway is not only a new efficient and safe land passage for the flow of people and goods between China and Thailand, but also an important part of the major transportation artery in the Indo-China Peninsula. 

In the future, the China-Thailand Railway will be further extended southward and connected with the railway networks of Malaysia and Singapore, which can further promote the connectivity between China and Southeast Asian countries. 

This "trans-Asian Railway" can also be connected to Europe via the China-Europe freight trains, and its prospects are indeed limitless. The China-Laos Railway has been operating smoothly for more than three years. And the completion of the China-Thailand Railway will contribute to the realization of the goal of connected development among China, Laos and Thailand, and bring benefits to the people of the three countries.

GT: Since the implementation of the visa-exemption agreement between China and Thailand on March 1, 2024, nearly a year has passed. How do you evaluate the role of the visa-exemption agreement in promoting personnel exchanges between the two sides? What potential do you think there is for further cooperation between the two countries in the cultural industry?

Han: Since the implementation of the visa exemption agreement between China and Thailand, the people of the two countries have been traveling to each other's countries, and the people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Thailand have reached a new high. 

In 2024, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand reached 6.733 million, accounting for 19 percent of the total number of foreign tourists in Thailand and ranking first. The number of Thai tourists traveling to China has increased rapidly. In 2024, it exceeded 1.1 million, nearly three times higher than that in 2023, far exceeding the level before the pandemic, and China has become one of the most popular overseas travel destinations for Thai tourists. 

According to the forecasts of the tourism industry associations of China and Thailand, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Thailand will further recover significantly in 2025, and the number of Thai tourists traveling to China will continue to rise.

In recent years, with the help of new carriers such as film and television dramas, games, online literature, and cultural and creative trendy play products, Chinese culture and development concepts have been attracting increasing attention and welcome from the Thai people, especially the younger generation, in a more fashionable, diverse, and open manner, thus becoming a new window for Thais to understand China. 

At the same time, China and Thailand are important markets for each other's cultural products going global and for soft power economic cooperation. The two countries can further strengthen the alignment of development strategies in the cultural and creative industries, and enhance exchanges in aspects such as policy exchanges, talent cultivation, digital technology empowerment, and the improvement of the international competitiveness of cultural products. 

The cooperation in the cultural industries between China and Thailand is not only an important force to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, but also a new economic growth point for both sides.

GT: Recently, the telecom fraud on the Thailand-Myanmar border has drawn close attention. How do you evaluate the recent measures cracking down on telecom fraud taken by Thailand? Could you introduce the latest progress of the cooperation between China and Thailand in combating telecom fraud and other transnational criminal activities?

Han: Recently, in response to the continuous occurrence of vicious online gambling and telecom fraud cases on the Thailand-Myanmar border, China, Thailand, and Myanmar have jointly launched a concentrated crackdown operation. 

Many telecom fraud compounds have been eradicated, and a large number of suspects have been arrested. More than 2,000 Chinese nationality criminal suspects have been repatriated to China. China has expressed its appreciation for the strong measures taken by Thailand to destroy the telecom fraud gangs and safeguard the lives and property of Chinese and other countries' citizens.

China will continue to deepen law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries, including Thailand, step up efforts to combat cross-border criminal activities such as telecom fraud, online gambling, and human trafficking. 

China will assist in the investigation, search, rescue and release of missing and trapped people, effectively safeguard the lives, property and legitimate rights and interests of the people, and jointly maintain regional peace. At the same time, we also require Chinese citizens overseas to strictly abide by local laws and regulations and refrain from engaging in criminal activities.

A Chinese tourist in Sri Lanka suffered critical injuries on March 9 after striking a railway tunnel while leaning out of a moving train to recreate the viral "train hanging" photo trend. In response, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka issued an urgent statement, strongly advising travelers to prioritize safety over social media trends, and warning of the extreme risks posed by such reckless behavior.

A 35-year-old Chinese female tourist in Sri Lanka was severely injured while imitating popular social media photo poses. While the train was in motion, she leaned out and hit her head against the 19th railway tunnel in Idalgashinna and subsequently fell from the train, according to reports from local media in Sri Lanka.

She was quickly taken to a nearby hospital for emergency care before being transferred twice to other medical facilities. The hospital stated that she sustained severe head and leg injuries, and her condition remains critical.

Sri Lanka's iconic trains along tea plantation and ocean routes are highly popular among tourists, said the domestic media outlet. Many travel guides on social media feature eye-catching poses, such as leaning out of moving trains or "train hanging," a dangerous stunt involving dangling outside carriages. 

Local guide Krish was cited by the media as saying that this has almost become a ritual for tourists in Sri Lanka. "I've seen countless social media posts featuring such photos and videos, which ironically attract more imitators," Krish said. He emphasized that while Chinese tourists are frequently associated with this trend, it's prevalent across all nationalities, particularly Western tourists. 

Krish also said that in recent years, these reckless stunts have led to multiple injuries and fatalities. The danger cannot be overstated.

He noted that Sri Lanka offers special low-speed tourist trains for safer photography, but many visitors are unaware of this option. 

The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka released updated safety guideline following the incident, emphasizing tourist vigilance. The guideline explicitly warned against risky behaviors like leaning out of moving trains or standing near carriage doors. It also cautioned travelers to stay clear of railway tracks, highlighting that many crossings lack protective barriers. Additional recommendations included using certified transportation providers, double-checking route safety—especially in isolated regions—and maintaining heightened awareness of potential risks during travels.

Senior Chinese official He Lifeng on Sunday met with former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in Beijing, and the two sides exchanged views on both China-U.S. economic and trade relations and the global economy.

Noting that China's economy is maintaining its recovery momentum, He, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs, said that China's innovation-driven development has achieved remarkable results, while market expectations continue to improve, and adding that domestic demand potential and internal circulation space are huge.

China's new development pattern is taking shape at a faster pace, the fundamentals of the Chinese economy remain unchanged and its prospects remain bright, He said.

Noting that U.S.-China relations are very important and green transformation is the general trend, Paulson said that the Paulson Institute is willing to continue to contribute positively to the stability of U.S.-China relations and green and low-carbon development.

After two central government bodies in Hong Kong reposted two opinion pieces criticizing CK Hutchison Holdings for its decision to sell ports in Panama and elsewhere to an investment group led by an American asset manager, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday, before attending the Executive Council meeting, that the HKSAR government expects foreign governments to provide a fair and just environment for businesses, including Hong Kong enterprises, and opposes the use of coercion or pressure tactics in international economic and trade relations, Hong Kong media RTHK reported.

When commenting on the matter on Tuesday, Lee expressed three views, according to Wen Wei Po.

First, he noted that there has been much discussion in society about the issue, reflecting public concern, which deserves attention.

Second, he emphasized that the HKSAR government expects foreign governments to provide a fair and just environment for businesses, including Hong Kong enterprises, and opposes the use of coercion or pressure tactics.

Third, he stated that any transaction must comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and the HKSAR government will handle the matter in accordance with the law and regulations, Wen Wei Po reported.

Hong Kong-based Ta Kung Pao published two opinion pieces questioning the CK Hutchison's decision to sell the pots, on Saturday and Thursday respectively.

In the Saturday piece, it asked, "Why are so many important ports so easily transferred to the US forces that harbor malicious intentions? What kind of political calculations are hidden behind the so-called commercial behavior on the surface? Has the so-called 'shrewd' deal taken into account the interests of the country and the nation? Is such a choice actually helping the evildoers and bringing harm to China and the world?"

The article also warned if one fails to see clearly the true nature of those US politicians who "not only want money but also want you to die," and chooses to dance with them, one might perhaps manage to make a fortune for a while, but in the end, there will be no future, and what's more, one will incur the condemnation of history.  

Ta Kung Pao also published an opinion piece on Thursday saying that this deal is a hegemonic act in which the US uses its national power to usurp the legitimate rights and interests of other countries through coercion, pressure and inducement. It is a form of power politics dressed up as a "commercial act."

The article urged relevant companies to think twice about the nature and crux of the issue, and also ponder about what stance to take and which side to stand on.

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have reposted on their websites the two opinion pieces published by Ta Kung Pao.

Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, published a post on social media on Monday, asking without naming anyone: "Do businessmen have a motherland?" Wen Wei Po reported on Tuesday.

Leung stated that some Hong Kong businessmen mistakenly believe in the notion that "business knows no borders" and assume that everything is purely business. However, businessmen without a motherland will only face bullying. He emphasized that businessmen should also prioritize their country.

He pointed out that American businessmen can only act in alignment with US interests and cannot do anything that goes against them. He concluded that this inherent relationship between American businessmen and their country applies equally to other nations, including the UK, Canada, and Singapore—"and China is no exception."

As the US is intensifying its efforts to undermine China's shipbuilding industry, shipping sector, and the Belt and Road Initiative in an attempt to contain China's rise, this deal will inevitably pose a threat to national interests and security, Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"I believe that before making business decisions, CK Hutchison should fully and seriously consider the complexity of the international landscape and the well-being of the nation and its people. After all, key infrastructure holds significant strategic value, and its critical role in great-power competition should not be underestimated," Lau added.

Dubbed the "Davos of Defense," the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) officially opened on Friday. Observers noted that across a broad spectrum of discussions, China's role is attracting an ever-growing share of the interest.

The lobby of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof - the main venue of the three-day gathering - was transformed into a blur of suits and uniforms, as diplomats, politicians, military leaders, and experts come to engage in a "brainstorm" for global security challenges and potential solutions.  

In the afternoon of the MSC's first day, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, took the stage at the conference hall of the hotel and delivered a keynote speech on "China in the world." 

The world we live in is an increasing mix of turbulence and transformation. Many people are asking, where is it headed? China's answer is, we should work for an equal and orderly multipolar world, Wang said in his speech. 

Well over 50 heads of state and government, 150 ministers from around the world, and heads of leading international organizations will gather from Friday to Sunday, noted an MSC email to journalists on Thursday. "We expect more than 800 participants from more than 110 countries and our program for the coming days consists of more than 350 sessions covering a broad array of topics," it reads. 

Discussion of multipolarization

The MSC unveiled its Munich Security Report 2025, titled "Multipolarization," as a discussion starter for the conference. 

The theme represents a significant, albeit reluctant, recognition by the collective West that the era of American unipolarity has come to an end, Warwick Powell, adjunct professor at Queensland University of Technology and former advisor to former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, told the Global Times.

Powell noted that the report openly acknowledges that power is now diffused among a greater number of actors, influencing key global issues in ways that unipolar decision-making cannot accommodate. The shift, while long predicted by some, has taken decades to be acknowledged within Western strategic thought, Powell said. 

The question now is whether the West will fully embrace this new reality or continue to resist it through strategies of containment and competition, Powell added. 

What has been more widely noticed by the observer than the theme multipolarization itself is a sense of anxiety brought by the new US administration in the Western world.

"We were being ripped off by European nations both on trade and on NATO. […] If you don't pay, we're not going to protect you," read a quote by US President Donald Trump in the report. 

The report articulated that "the post-Cold War consensus that the US remained the unrivaled leader of the world, with deep interests in, and responsibility for, maintaining the international order, was already under pressure before the US elections," adding that the arrival of the new US government "buried it".

The new US administration, only a little over a month into office, has rolled out a series of protectionist measures, while showing no leniency even toward its allies, observers said. On Monday, the US raised tariffs on steel and aluminum imports on Monday to a flat 25 percent "without exceptions or exemptions." One day later, European leaders declared they would retaliate. 

"European allies are bracing this week for the answer to a question they've been dreading to ask: Can they really count on the United States?" reads an article in Politico on Thursday. The "question" harbors a series of issues ranging from the new US attitude toward Europe to Washington's posture on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

Europe is undergoing perhaps its most difficult period since the end of the Cold War, Sevim Dagdelen, a member of the German Bundestag since 2005 and foreign policy spokesperson of the group "Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance" (BSW, "Reason and Justice") in the German Bundestag, told the Global Times. 

Dagdelen continued that on the one hand, Europe has, to its own detriment, allowed itself to be dragged into a self-destructive economic war against Russia and into bringing illegal sanctions against China; on the other hand, it is now itself becoming the target of an economic war waged by the new US administration and is supposed to continue paying for the war in Ukraine. 

Wang Yiwei, director of Center for European Union Studies at Renmin University of China, who is attending the MSC, said that China's proposed vision of multipolarity emphasizes equality and order, directly countering the notion of a multipolarity that is inherently unequal and chaotic.

Growing attention to China's role

In his speech, Wang Yi stressed it is important to advocate equal treatment; respect international rule of law; practice multilateralism in the face of emerging global challenges; and pursue openness and mutual benefit. 

Jiang Feng, professor of European Studies at the Shanghai International Studies University and president of the Shanghai Association of Regional and Country Studies, who is also attending the MSC, told the Global Times that an EU official sitting next to him praised China for voicing peace, emphasizing that such a stance is crucial in an increasingly complex international landscape and expressed hope that China would continue to uphold this position.

Jiang noted that given the rise of US isolationism - particularly under the America First approach of the new US administration - the international community is paying increasing attention to China's role in global governance, mutual development, and addressing key issues such as artificial intelligence and climate change, as well as growing expectation for deeper engagement and exchanges with China. 

In terms of Chinese foreign minister's speech, Wang Yiwei observed two notable changes in the arrangements compared to last year.

First, only three figures were granted the stage for keynote speeches: Wang Yi from China, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and US Vice President J.D. Vance. All other leaders take part in panel discussions instead of delivering standalone addresses.

Second, Wang Yi's speech was scheduled earlier this year. In previous years, his address took place on the second day of the conference, whereas this year, it is moved to the first day - putting China on the same stage with the US and Europe. 

These arrangements speak volumes about China's growing significance and that Europe is having growing interests to hear China's perspective, Wang Yiwei added.

In addition to Wang's speech, China's former vice foreign minister Fu Ying will join the panel discussion "Making Waves: Maritime Tensions in the Indo-Pacific" on Saturday. Seven China-focused side events are taking place from Thursday evening through Saturday, covering a broad range of topics, including China's role in the Arctic, transatlantic policy approaches toward China, the rebalancing of China's national security strategy, and the implications of China-Russia cooperation.

Beyond the China-focused side events, Wang Yiwei observed that discussions on China permeated nearly every session on Friday. For instance, at a dedicated panel on energy this morning, where there was no Chinese speaker, China was still mentioned from time to time. It has become nearly impossible to have a conversation without touching on China - an unmistakable reflection of the country's growing influence across multiple domains.

In an age of profound global upheaval - marked by anxiety, uncertainty, and the urgent search for solutions - the world is turning to dialogue more than ever. And in these discussions, China is impossible to ignore and ever more widely expected to play a pivotal role, Wang Yiwei told the Global Times.