From November 13 to 17, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation on a friendly visit to Thailand at the invitation of Korn Dabbaransi, President of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand. During his visit, Yang met with Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Minister of Culture, Nirat Pongsitthavorn, Governor of Chiang Mai Province, and Assanee Buranupakorn, Mayor of Chiang Mai Municipality. Yang also held working meetings with President Korn Dabbaransi, Bhokin Bhalakula, President of the Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association and former President of the National Assembly of Thailand, and Han Zhiqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand. Additionally, he engaged in talks with Borwornsak Uwanno, Chairman of the Foundation of King Prajadhipok's Institute, and youth representatives. Yang had extensive exchanges of views with figures from Thailand's political, business, and cultural circles on China-Thailand relations, people-to-people friendship, youth exchanges and proposals for celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand next year.
During the meeting, Yang Wanming emphasized that China and Thailand share geographical proximity, ancestral ties, and cultural similarities, making them good neighbors, friends, relatives, and partners. Over the past 50 years, China-Thailand relations have maintained stable, sound, and rapid development, creating what Yang described as the "golden 50 years". He highlighted the widespread belief in both countries that "China and Thailand are as close as one family". Yang referred to the historic visit by President Xi Jinping to Thailand in November 2022, during which China and Thailand reached a significant consensus on building a China-Thailand community with a shared future for greater stability, prosperity, and sustainability. This agreement marked the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations.
Yang also noted President Xi Jinping's recent meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru. During the meeting, President Xi reiterated that "China and Thailand remain as close as a family". He emphasized China's readiness to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries, achieve greater synergy in development strategies, deepen the exchange of governance experiences, coordinate and promote mutually beneficial cooperation in all sectors, support each other's modernization drives, and make further progress in building the China-Thailand community with a shared future. The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, celebrated as the "Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship". Yang noted that the CPAFFC will collaborate closely with Thai friendship organizations and people from all sectors of society to explore innovative ways to commemorate this milestone. Yang outlined plans to take advantage of this opportunity to build more platforms and bridges for the two countries in the fields of people-to-people friendship, subnational cooperation, cultural exchanges, culture and tourism promotion, and youth exchanges, strengthen the foundation for the next "golden 50 years" of China-Thailand relations.
Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and Anutin Charnvirakul praised the CPAFFC for its positive contributions to strengthening the bilateral friendship and promoting people-to-people friendship. They reiterated that China and Thailand are as close as one family, with the two peoples sharing bonds akin to those of brothers. They noted that the two nations have maintained close and friendly relations across all levels and in various fields. The Thai royal family and government highly value their relationship with China and actively support the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. In light of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025, the Thai royal family and government plan to enhance bilateral communication through both bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. They aim to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in economy, trade, culture, tourism, and local government while supporting social organizations in both countries to organize more friendly activities for the benefit of their peoples.
Nirat Pongsitthavorn and Assanee Buranupakorn expressed their wish to pursue greater practical cooperation with local governments in China. They emphasized their interest in drawing on China's successful experiences in environmental protection and urban governance, deepening sister-city exchanges, increasing economic and trade investments, and fostering greater coordination in the tourism sector.
Korn Dabbaransi and Bhokin Bhalakula voiced their willingness to collaborate with the CPAFFC in planning and organizing the event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. They emphasized that these efforts would help lay a solid foundation for strengthening Thai-Chinese people-to-people friendship in the new era.
The Thai youth representatives shared the outcomes of their visit to China, expressing admiration for China's advanced development achievements. They conveyed their willingness to learn from China's experience and strive to become heirs of the Thailand-China friendship and promoters of human progress.
During the visit, Yang Wanming engaged in extensive discussions with Nantana, Chairman of the Thailand-China Parliamentarians Friendship Group, Kanog, former Chairman of the Thailand-China Parliamentarians Friendship Group, Traisulee Traisoranakul, Secretary to the Minister of Interior, Li Shaozhu, Senior Chairman of Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group, Chen Shaoyang, Vice President of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Xiao Hanming, Vice President of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and Theparak Leungsuwan, Chairman of the Namyong Group.
Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC, accompanied Yang Wanming during the visit.
