Thai deputy PM calls for enhanced Thailand-China cooperation

Thailand admires China's achievements in the past 70 years and stands ready to work with China to develop the Belt and Road Initiative for the prosperity of Thailand and the region, said Anutin Charnvirakul, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health in an interview with Chinese media.

"China has made rapid progress in a relatively short period of time," Anutin said after attending the opening ceremony of the exhibition "Qin Shi Huang, The First Emperor of China and Terracotta Warriors" held in Bangkok last week.

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Anutin noted that China has made great progress in the past 70 years. "China succeeded in developing from an impoverished country in the past to an economic superpower, plus the rapid advancement in terms of technology."

"Countries like Thailand are impressed by what China has achieved," the deputy prime minister said.

Anutin said Thailand would like to achieve what China has achieved in a comparatively short period of time and the cooperation between two countries would be a catalyst.

Anutin said that there are already many cooperation projects between Thailand and China, including those under the Belt and Road Initiative such as the Thailand-China high-speed railway project.

He spoke highly of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, noting that it contributes to regional development and helps to enhance the competitiveness of Asian countries.

"As the leader of Bhumjaithai Party, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health, I support Thailand-China cooperation in every field," he said.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road.

Editor: John Li