Picture this: the grand Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing acting as a backdrop to a significant meeting of minds. Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, engaging in amicable diplomatic exchange with his Chinese counterpart, Prime Minister Li Qiang. You can just about visualize the mutual respect as they clasp hands firmly during their critical discussion.
The notable Thai political figure, Mr. Thavisin, propositioned a perpetually visa-free entry for Chinese vacationers during these extensive discussions. Detailed overviews of the proposed southern Thai landbridge, a significant component of the groundbreaking China-supported Belt and Road Initiative, were also elaborated upon. It wasn’t a one-way street either – the talks revolved around promoting Thailand-China trade with a potential new bridge crossing the magnanimous Mekong River stretching to Laos, along with streamlining the export process for Thai cows heading to China.
Mr. Thavisin enthusiastically recalled the camaraderie between himself and the Chinese Prime Minister. “The bond I felt with the Chinese Prime Minister was remarkable,” he noted, adding that this diplomatic relationship held significant promise for future collaborations. “Dependency is crucial in this relationship, drawing strength from China’s experience as an influential player in the global arena.”
The assortment of diverse discussions was part of Mr. Thavisin’s larger itinerary during his trip to Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. As part of a sweeping economic revival blueprint, the Thai government had implemented a short-term visa exemption initiative for Chinese and Kazakh nationals for long stay visits. Targeting tourism growth, this initiative which kicked off on September 25, is expected to run through to February 29 and has already seen encouraging responses from Chinese travelers.
Despite the unfortunate incident at Siam Paragon that claimed the life of a Chinese tourist among others, sparking security concerns, the authorities have pledged to resolve these issues. Most notably, China remains the primary contributor to Thailand’s international tourism – a whopping 11 million arrivals were recorded back in 2019 and this year, an estimated 5 million Chinese tourists are expected to visit Thai shores.
Mr. Thavisin also extended reassurances to his Chinese counterpart about Thailand’s continued support of the Belt and Road Initiative, outlining that construction of a new bridge linking Nong Khai to Laos over the Mekong River could facilitate Thai-cargo exports to China via Laos.
Another plan on his agenda was the immense landbridge project aiming to bridge the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea through the southern provinces of Chumphon and Ranong. This development could potentially magnify the Belt and Road’s connectivity to other global locations, something that was forecasted by Mr. Thavisin.
The ambitious landbridge initiative spanning 90 kilometers end-to-end would be a game-changer for cargo transport, reducing travel time between the South China Sea and the Andaman Sea by six to nine days, compared to the notoriously busy Strait of Malacca. This, along with the setting up of China-backed factories in Thailand, could transform the country into a global logistical hub, Mr. Thavisin observed.
The Prime Minister also suggested streamlining the export of cows to China. Instead of conducting necessary checks, including health examinations and vaccinations in Laos (as currently required by China), he proposed that these be conducted in Thailand, where exports could be more conveniently facilitated by rail and sea transport.
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