He said Thailand regards China as a brother.
The people of the two countries are linked by blood.
He was impressed by China's economic development.
Praise China ** and the Chinese people for creating miracles.
Thai Prime Minister Saitha Thazin gave an exclusive interview to "High-end Interview".
Focus on international focus and gain insight into the world. Hello everyone, welcome to this issue of "High-end Interview", I am Zou Yun.
Today we are in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, where we are going to have a conversation with Thai Prime Minister Saitha Thaksin Thynz. On March 1, China and Thailand officially entered the "visa-free era". In addition to bringing "go-and-go" travel for the people of the two countries, what kind of new impetus will the mutual visa exemption inject into bilateral economic, trade, people-to-people and cultural exchanges? How does Prime Minister Saita expect the "Sino-Thai family" to continue to go both ways? And what is his outlook for the Sino-Thai community with a shared future? Today, let's find answers in a conversation.
Zou Yun:Mr. Prime Minister, it is my pleasure to invite you to High-Level Interview. I wish you a good old age and send you a belated birthday wish.
Saita:Thank you so much! Happy New Year and good morning!
Zou Yun:Let's start with some exciting news. Since March this year, China and Thailand have officially entered the "visa-free era", as the two countries have signed a mutual visa exemption agreement. First of all, could you tell us why the Thai side made the decision to exempt Chinese citizens from visa exemption? How do you understand the importance of visa exemption between the two countries?
Saita:This brings us back to the question of "who we are". Because most Thais are of Chinese ancestry, our ancestors are from China, and the people of Thailand and China have always gotten along well. Thais love to travel to China. Many Chinese cities are very popular with Thais, especially Beijing and Shanghai. There are many other multicultural cities.
Zou Yun:Diversity.
Saita:Yes, the Thais are interested. Similarly, China has been Thailand's largest source of tourists over the past decade. Thailand took office in early September last year, and we learned that China's first week was from the end of September to the beginning of October. One way to stimulate the economy is to revitalize the tourism industry, so we believe that if Thailand implements a visa-free policy for Chinese people, it will help stimulate the local economy. At the same time, it also shows Thailand's friendly attitude towards China and shows that we value China because China is one of the countries with which we have very close relations. These are the reasons why Thailand has decided to waive visas.
It has a long history, unique scenery and a close cultural ......Thailand has long been one of the most popular overseas destinations for Chinese tourists. After three years of the trough of the epidemic, Thailand's tourism industry is also eagerly looking forward to the return of Chinese tourists.
On September 5, 2023, Saita Thaksin was inaugurated as Prime Minister of Thailand. A week later, on September 13, he announced that Thailand unilaterally granted a five-month visa-free policy to Chinese citizens. On January 28 this year, China and Thailand** signed a mutual visa exemption agreement in Bangkok, which came into effect on March 1 and seamlessly connected with the previous visa-free policy.
On February 27, data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand showed that from January 1 to February 25 this year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand exceeded 1 million, ranking first among foreign tourists.
Thai spicy hot pot restaurant owner Pin Pani:[This policy] is very good, it is conducive to attracting more tourists to Thailand, and it is also a good thing for us as merchants.
Thai Merchant Sakun:It is very good to provide visa-free access to Chinese tourists, which can bring more income to the people, so that more Chinese tourists can visit our Ayutthaya and experience the ancient culture here.
Thai Coach Driver Spelling:I like to host Chinese tourists, they are very friendly to the drivers and the Thai people, and I can have more job opportunities. Then, it is also more convenient to travel to China. I want to go to the capital of China, and I would definitely like to visit it if I have the chance.
Zou Yun:You said earlier that Thailand is ready to welcome Chinese tourists, and it sounds confident. Can you share with us what measures Thailand has taken to keep overseas visitors safe and enhance their overall travel experience?
Saita:I think the key word is "overall experience". Needless to say, we have sun, sea, sand, shopping, culture and food that Chinese tourists love. But Thailand** can't help but take it to heart that we must ensure that Chinese tourists are well protected, from the first step they set foot on Thai soil, that is, when they enter the country. Our requirement for border control** is that visitors cannot be made to wait longer than 30 minutes. Can we do that? Most of the time it can, but sometimes visitors still have to wait 45 minutes to 1 hour, which is quite long. We are working hard to ensure that all processes, all immigration formalities are carried out according to KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), and that baggage is delivered in a timely manner at the airport, otherwise there will be a half-hour waiting for baggage after entry. Also make sure there are taxis. For us, the safety of Chinese tourists is paramount.
Zou Yun:I've experienced a similar situation that you just mentioned. I remember when I came to Thailand many years ago, when I was a child, the first Thai I learned was "hello" and "thank you", as well as "hot water" and "hot tea". Please forgive me for my (Thai) pronunciation is not standard. Because many years ago, it was difficult to drink hot water in restaurants and hotels in Bangkok. But this time, as soon as I arrived at the airport, I saw that there was a water dispenser, and I could choose between hot water, room temperature water, and cold water. So as you say, "the devil is in the details".
Saita:You observe very carefully. I think the most important thing is to make sure that the guests are satisfied, that they have choices and that they feel welcome. I personally like to drink ice water.
Zou Yun:Understandable.
Saita:But Chinese tourists like to drink hot water, so add warm water and hot water. Everyone has different preferences, so we should provide them all.
Zou Yun:Yes. Enhancing soft power to promote economic development is a key policy of this Thailand**. Can you elaborate on that? Soft power includes fashion, design, film, festivals, food, and more. If you had to choose one, what would you most recommend to Chinese audiences?
Saita:Different people have different preferences. Some Chinese like to taste food, and we have a variety of food, such as coconut milk cake. It's all a matter of personal preference. I love sports. Muay Thai, for example, shows Thailand's soft power in the sport. Muay Thai is famous all over the world, and Europeans especially love Muay Thai, who come to Thailand and spend seven to ten days training to drive other consumption.
Zou Yun:Yes. Why is soft power particularly important for this year?
Saita:If you look at the current development of Thailand, you will see that most of the big cities like Chiang Mai are already very famous, both for tourism and culture. Phuket is a world-class tourist destination with sun, sand, food, and quality hotels. Bangkok, you all know what to do. But there are many other places that are not well known, and there are some places that Chinese tourists have not even heard of. The only way to make them known is to ......Why should people learn about these places? We can let tourists know about these places through culture, fashion, food, sports, local culture, etc., so I hope that other places can share the prosperity (brought by tourists).
Zou Yun:You visited China last October and attended the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. China was the first country you have made an official visit to outside ASEAN since taking office, and your meeting with President *** was one of the highlights of that visit. During the conversation, the chairman described Sino-Thai relations as "one family between China and Thailand". He also said that China and Thailand live next to each other, and the friendship between China and Thailand is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of the two countries. Previously, in his speech at the 29th APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting, Chairman *** quoted a Thai proverb, "What seeds are sown, what bears fruit". Mr. Prime Minister, next year, 2025, will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. What kind of seeds do you and Thailand plan to sow to further enrich the bilateral relationship on the basis of the close relationship between the two countries?
Saita:I think the seed was planted 50 years ago. The friendship between the two peoples began with the Thai royal family, who often visited China and visited several cities. I would like to take the opportunity of my visit to China to express my gratitude to President *** for taking care of our royal family. I am very proud to say to Chairman *** that Thailand regards China as a brother, and we are linked by blood. Thailand and China have frequent economic exchanges, and the bilateral amount is huge. China has made the largest direct investment in Thailand in the past few years, especially in the electric vehicle industry. The connectivity brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative has greatly promoted regional development. Therefore, we have specially chosen China as the first stop of our visit outside ASEAN to show the deep friendship between our two countries.
Zou Yun:What impressed you the most during your meeting with the chairman? What kind of leader is the Chairman in your eyes?
Saita:I think that as the leader of China, President *** has a deep insight into how human beings should live together. His first concern was peace, and shared prosperity. We need to achieve shared prosperity economically. He also values **, and so do we. In any case, if everyone has money in their pockets, society will be a better place. The more money you have in your pocket, the better off society can be. **The President was very friendly and understood that Thailand, as a smaller country, wants to grow together with China.
Zou Yun:You also told the Chairman that you would like to learn from China's governance experience. We would like to know, what do you think China's development experience can inspire Thailand?
Saita:Poverty eradication, I think, is an important factor in the success of China's economy. There is also technology to empower economic development. After that visit, Thailand and China** held a meeting to implement the results of the visit.
Zou Yun:What impressed you the most from your last visit to China? Is it the way of life, the development of China, or something else?
Saita:It's economic development. I think China has done miracles for Chinese people, eradicating poverty, building infrastructure and ......And many, like clean air.
Zou Yun:In your speech at the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly last year, you emphasized the importance of international cooperation, how do you view the importance of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China?
Saita:We fully support it. Leaders can discuss the issues we face frankly and openly, whether it's the fight against crime or economic development, which is critical to advancing economic development.
80 kilometers north of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, a high-speed railway is under construction, which is the 4-3 bid section of the China-Thailand high-speed rail project.
As the flagship project of the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries, the China-Thailand high-speed railway is the first high-speed railway in Thailand, and it is also the first high-speed rail project overseas to use China's high-speed rail standards and be funded by the host country. Among them, the first phase of the project connects Bangkok and the northeast of Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima, and the second phase of the project will be extended from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, a major trade town in northeast Thailand, which is only across the river from Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
This is the construction site of the 4-3 bid section of the Sino-Thai high-speed railway (project), which is the largest and only elevated section of the first phase of the entire project.
We can see that the construction on the site has now made a lot of progress. If you follow my hand and look in that direction, you will see the existing meter gauge in Thailand, which is called the meter gauge because it uses the 1000 mm design standard that has been in place for more than a century. But now, some of these sections are no longer able to meet the needs of modern rail transport. The China-Thailand high-speed railway, which is under construction, uses a standard track of 1,435 mm, which is expected to increase the construction and transportation capacity of the whole of Thailand after completion.
Jie Zhan, Safety Manager of China Construction Sino-Thai High-speed Railway Project:The China-Thailand high-speed railway is very important to Thailand, and Thailand and the Thai people have been looking forward to this project for a long time. The high-speed rail has strengthened Thailand's comprehensive economic strength and made Thailand the center of the railway network connecting China, Laos and Malaysia. This is where Thailand has benefited the most. My family plans to wait for this project to be completed, send my son to study in China, and then our family will take the high-speed train to China, and my son can also take the high-speed train to go to school in China.
Head of Sarapan Village, Shanara Township, Pathum Thani Province, Gesem:As the head of the village, I heard that Thailand will build a high-speed railway, which will be beneficial to attract tourists from all over the world to visit Thailand. At that time, the income of our villagers will increase, and the Thai economy will develop better.
Zou Yun:Mr. Prime Minister, when it comes to connectivity, we have something to show you. This is a model of the Chinese "Fuxing" EMU. The reason for showing this model is that the China-Thailand railway is the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative between the two countries, and you have also visited the border area between Thailand and Laos. What are your expectations for the changes brought about by the China-Thailand railway project and other co-construction projects under the Belt and Road Initiative?
Saita:I think connectivity is very important because people-to-people relationships, whether it's through roads, trains or planes, can't go smoothly without a good connected transportation system. I believe that we can grow together and improve the well-being of the people of both countries by increasing connectivity.
Zou Yun:Mr. Prime Minister, when it comes to green development cooperation, green development has become an emerging trend in the region. Thailand plans to become an electric vehicle hub in Southeast Asia, and we note that China's NEVs are not only selling well in the Thai market, but these brands are also setting up production lines locally. Recently, you can see a lot of Chinese new energy vehicles on the streets of Bangkok. So, what do you think is the biggest competitive advantage of China's new energy vehicles? What policies has Thailand** adopted to promote the green development of automobiles, and what kind of business environment does it provide?
Saita:I think both countries have competitive advantages, and it is not enough to have the advantage of one side alone. Technology is certainly an advantage for electric vehicles in China, and there is also the speed with which Chinese businessmen think and make decisions on investment. Thailand, on the other hand, offers tax incentives, we have connectivity facilities, we have deep-water ports, we have industrial parks. In the Thai market, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles is the fastest in the region. At the auto show at the end of last year, 40% of the vehicles booked were new energy vehicles, and 80% of these 40% were Chinese new energy vehicles.
Zou Yun:It's pretty remarkable.
Saita:The speed with which Thailand has shifted to the NEV market and the deep emphasis on the green economy are the main reasons why Thailand ranks among the top investment target countries for Chinese new energy vehicle companies.
Zou Yun:In addition to cooperation on green development, what other economic and trade cooperation do you expect from China and Thailand? Because as we just mentioned, China is Thailand's largest partner and the largest foreign investor.
Saita:: The world is changing fast, and artificial intelligence will be one of the most important areas. Data centers are one of the important foundations for the development of artificial intelligence, and many Chinese companies are looking to invest in this area. Huawei, for example, plays a very important role. We have had a pleasant and fruitful discussion with Huawei and hope that they will expand more business in Thailand. It's not just electric cars, it's trains, and as you just showed, Chinese companies are also considering making trains in Thailand. Can we meet all the needs and ensure supply? We can't do it because we only have a population of 68 million. We want Thailand to become a manufacturing hub for all Chinese goods. Whatever China wants, as long as Thailand can provide it, please consider Thailand. We want to make sure that our employees who are sent to Thailand by Chinese companies feel at home. I know they're going to feel like home here.
Zou Yun:So, it's also a "holistic experience".
Saita:"Overall experience", yes.
Zou Yun:You used to be a very successful businessman. What advice would you give to Chinese companies who want to expand their market in Thailand?
Saita:See more, talk more. I encourage them to come to Thailand. If you need help and support, the doors are open for you. I will help both parties achieve a win-win situation. We welcome companies from all walks of life, and I went to China to tell the world that we welcome everyone! So if you come to Thailand, please let us know and we will help companies to advance their investment in Thailand.
Zou Yun:In your opinion, what is the attractiveness of the Thai market compared to other ASEAN countries?
Saita:We have the advantage of geographical location, Thailand is not a landlocked country, our deep-water ports are mature, our airports are in good condition, and after further transformation, the interconnection will be more convenient; We also have clean energy; Thailand's Board of Investment also provides tax incentives; The cost of living is relatively low, it attracts a lot of tourists, the people are friendly and friendly, the food is delicious, and the healthcare system is good.
Zou Yun:We must recognize that one of the prerequisites for closer communication and cooperation is a secure and stable environment. Mr. Prime Minister, how will China and Thailand work together to combat cross-border crimes, such as telecom fraud and online gambling, in the future?
Saita:Online gambling, online fraud, and telecom fraud are crimes that are committed across borders. We carried out arrests on Thai soil, and the operation was very successful, but they were transferred to Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and other countries. Closer cooperation among ASEAN leaders is therefore a key factor in the success of this matter.
Zou Yun:Finally, China and Thailand have a special friendship of "China and Thailand are one family", do you have anything to say to the Chinese?
Saita:I think an important point in the coming world is the visa-free policy that starts on March 1, the permanent mutual exemption policy, which is very important for the relationship between the two countries. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Chinese tourists and businesses. Whoever comes to Thailand, we will be a welcoming host. Rest assured, you will be well taken care of in Thailand. Needless to say, we believe that when Thais go to China, they will be greeted with the same warm hospitality as always.
Zou Yun:Great, thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister. It's been a pleasure talking to you today, and thank you so much for taking this time and sharing your insights with us.
Saita:Thank you, thank you!
Thai Prime Minister Saita Thazin wrote an inscription after an exclusive interview with the main station:
I would like to extend my warmest wishes to the Chinese people.
Saita He is prestigious.
In the interview just now, we felt Prime Minister Saita's confidence in the all-round development of China-Thailand relations. We also believe that the seeds of friendship, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results sown by China and Thailand will continue to take root and flourish, and promote the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries to bear more fruits.
Thank you for watching this issue of "High-end Interview", I am Zou Yun, and we will see you next time.
Chief Planner丨Shen Haixiong.
Director丨Li Ting.
Producer丨Shen Yong, Zhang Qin.
Chief Producer丨Pan Linhua.
Producer丨Yin Liping.
Reporter丨Zou Yun Li Min.
Camera丨Li Yajun, Liu Ming, Wang Fenghua, Wang Nan.
Planner丨Hu Weiwei.
Choreographer丨Gao Yushan, Gu Xuejia, Qian Siyu.
Outreach丨Han Shuo, Zhuang Ying.
Voiceover丨Yao Yujun.
New**丨Xuan Jiyou Yang Sitong.
Planning and support丨Asia-Pacific terminal.
Technical Supervisor丨Kong Zheng.
Visual Packaging丨Zhang Zizheng Wu Wei.
Late supervisor丨Zhao Xin.
Post-production丨Li Hao, Li Zhaoquan, Zhang Ningyu, Yi Bin.
Audio丨Li Mingrui.
Technical Support丨Pang Sen, Zhang Wenyu, Chen Hao.
Acknowledgement丨Embassy of Thailand in Beijing.
Editor in charge: Jia Hongwei.