Joint Press Communique
Between
the Government of the People's Republic of China
and
the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand
1. At the invitation of Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha of the Kingdom of Thailand paid an official visit to China from 22 to 23 December 2014. During the visit, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha paid a courtesy call on President Xi Jinping and held a bilateral meeting with Premier Li Keqiang as well as met with Chairman Zhang Dejiang of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.
2. The Chinese leaders kindly requested Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to convey their cordial greetings and best wishes to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of the Kingdom of Thailand. The Thai side expressed deep appreciation for China’s display of warm sentiments.
3. The Chinese side expressed appreciation to the Royal Thai Government for hosting a successful meeting of the Fifth Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Cooperation Program (GMS) Summit on 19-20 December 2014 in Bangkok. The Thai side expressed appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the support and constructive role in ensuring the fruitful outcome of the meeting. Both sides reaffirmed their cooperation in achieving inclusive and sustainable development in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
4. The two sides shared the view that with the growing economic interdependence and evolving regional and international landscape, it serves the fundamental and mutual interests of both Thailand and China to work together to strengthen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with a view to contributing to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and beyond as well as the improvement of the well-being of the peoples of both countries.
5. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the close and growing ties between the two countries. The Leaders of the two countries welcomed the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand in 2015. Both sides agreed to take the opportunity of this auspicious occasion to further strengthen their long-standing friendship, enhance strategic dialogue as well as deepen and expand the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership for the mutual benefit of the two countries and peoples.
6. China reiterated its understanding of the political situation in Thailand. China expressed support for the efforts by the Royal Thai Government in implementing the Roadmap on national reform, in promoting economic growth and in improving the well-being of the people.
7. The Thai side reiterated its firm adherence to the One-China Policy, and rendered full support for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and China's peaceful reunification.
8. The Leaders of the two countries applauded the outcome of the Third Meeting of the Joint Committee on Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation between the Government of China and Thailand. They reaffirmed their full support to the work of this important mechanism to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure, finance, energy, tourism, rubber industry and information communication and aerospace technology. The two sides agreed to make continuous efforts to promote and facilitate trade and cooperation of agricultural products. The Thai side welcomed the increased Chinese investment in Thailand, especially in greater value-added industries. Both sides look forward to working together to achieve the target of a combined number of tourist arrivals of 5 million between the two countries in 2016.
9. The two sides supported the re-invigorating of the various working groups between Thailand and the local governments of China to promote trade and investment and tourism between both sides.
10. Both sides reaffirmed the common vision for regional growth, prosperity and connectivity. In this regard, both sides welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on the Thailand’s Railways Infrastructure Development on The Strategic Framework for Development of Thailand’s Transportation Infrastructure 2015-2022 and the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation on Agricultural Products Trade between the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the government of the Kingdom of Thailand. Both sides shared the view that these two agreements will add a new momentum to the existing close China-Thailand relations and contribute to the long-term progress and development of the region as a whole. The two sides will work on the specific details of the project to bring about its early implementation.
11. The Thai side expressed her support to China’s initiatives on Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road in the 21st Century. Thailand supported the constructive role of China in promoting regional connectivity through infrastructure development, including the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Both sides attached importance to stepping up efforts in facilitating cross-border transport of goods and passengers between China and Thailand and the region through the main road networks such as the R3, R8 and R12 with a view to promoting trade, investment, tourism and people to people cooperation.
12. Both sides agreed to deepen financial and banking cooperation and to intensify efforts to promote the use of local currency with a view to facilitating bilateral trade and investment by establishing the Renminbi Clearing Banks in Thailand and renewing the existing Bilateral Swap Agreements (BSA).
13. The two sides agreed to share technologies, experiences and best practices in the areas of water resource management, flood prevention and disaster relief, to actively carry out relevant projects, and to explore cooperation in other potential areas of mutual interest.
14. Both sides agreed to further promote scientific and technical cooperation, including enhancing space cooperation, promoting the application of remote sensing, global navigation and other satellite technologies, and engaging actively in negotiations on an inter-governmental space activities cooperation agreement between the two countries.
15. The two sides agreed to convene defense and security dialogue between the Ministries of Defence of both countries, expand cooperation in the fields of joint military exercises, personnel training, defense industry and enhance cooperation in the prevention and the eradication of illegal immigration, drug trafficking, terrorism and transnational crimes, and continue to promote law enforcement and security cooperation through existing mechanisms within the Mekong River framework.
16.The two sides agreed to continue enhancing cooperation in culture and education, particularly in vocational education. The two sides expressed their readiness to vigorously promote exchanges and cooperation between local governments, and enhance people-to-people exchanges, so as to raise public awareness and support on the relations between China and Thailand.
17.The Thai side viewed that China could significantly contribute to the development of the countries in the region through its contributions to such areas as health, anti- drug trafficking and human trafficking.
18.The Chinese side appreciated the active and constructive role of Thailand, as Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in various fields and further enhance the ASEAN-China strategic partnership so that it continues to serve as an anchor of peace and stability in the region. Both sides also agreed to work closely on the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, promote practical cooperation and consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) , with a view to arriving at an early conclusion of the COC on the basis of consensus.
19.The Chinese side expressed support for ASEAN’s centrality in the regional architecture and the two sides agreed to further strengthen coordination and cooperation under the multilateral frameworks such as China-ASEAN, ASEAN+3, the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), the Asia Pacific and Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the United Nations (UN).
20.The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the fruitful outcome of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s official visit to China, and recognised the significance of the visit in setting the future course of the two countries’ bilateral relations. On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the people of Thailand, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha thanked the Government and the people of the People’s Republic of China for their warm hospitality.
--กองการสื่อมวลชน กรมสารนิเทศ กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ--