BANGKOK, Aug 5 (TNA) – Diplomats and youth representatives from Thailand and China have agreed that the enduring foundation of their countries’ relationship is the strong connection between their people and a sense of shared brotherhood.
The consensus was reached during a panel discussion titled “The Role of Youth in Thai-Chinese Relations for a Shared Future.” The forum was held to provide foundational knowledge and perspectives on the bilateral relationship to the 50 Thai and Chinese university students participating in the “Thai-Chinese Youth Ambassador Camp,” a program organized by Mae Fah Luang University in partnership with Mahidol and Prince of Songkla Universities.
Panelists included Ms. Jiraporn Sudanich, Ambassador attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Consul-General in Guangzhou; Mr. Zhao Mengtao, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Thailand; Mr. Zijie Zhao, Chinese youth representative (former President of the Chinese Student and Scholar Association in Thailand (CSSAT); and Ms. Natvara Pichedpan, Thai youth representative and UNICEF Youth Advisor for Thailand and the East Asia Pacific region.
While official diplomatic ties were established in 1975, the two nations share a deep-rooted relationship stretching back over 700 years, beginning with trade during the Chinese Eastern Han dynasty and Thailand’s Sukhothai period.
Ambassador Jiraporn identified two key factors in the special and enduring relationship: a shared history of trade and a cultural connection, which she called “spiritual capital.” She urged the youth ambassadors to be open-minded and listen to each other to connect ideas.
Counsellor Zhao Mengtao echoed this sentiment, stating that the long-lasting relationship is a result of similar cultures and a history of mutual support through hardships, including the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also noted the close ties between leaders at the governmental and royal levels, and reaffirmed the countries’ roles as strong trading partners.
Youth representatives Mr. Zijie Zhai and Ms. Natvara Pichedpan emphasized that young people have a crucial role to play not only in continuing bilateral relations but also in tackling global challenges like climate change through regional and international cooperation. They also stressed the importance of youth in accurately disseminating information to the world based on their direct experiences. -819 (TNA)
