National —
At 11:00 AM on October 16th, 2024, H.E. Mr. Han Zhiqiang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Thailand, paid a courtesy visit to Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra following their official discussion.
During the visit, Ambassador Han, representing the Chinese Embassy and the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, presented a donation of 7.2 million baht to assist Thai flood victims.
Paetongtarn expressed gratitude for the donation and highlighted that 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China, dubbing it the “Golden Year of Friendship.” Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation, especially in trade, investment, and cultural exchanges.
Ambassador Han congratulated Paetongtarn on her appointment and affirmed China’s commitment to fostering closer ties with Thailand. He also praised the Thai government for its efforts in boosting the economy and welcomed further collaboration in new industries such as electric vehicles (EVs) and data centers.
The two leaders also discussed preparations for a range of celebratory events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, including cultural exchanges and the temporary relocation of a sacred relic to Thailand. The ambassador also announced that China will gift Thailand a pair of giant pandas as goodwill ambassadors.
It’s unclear as of press time where the giant pandas would reside, but they would likely be extremely popular like Moo Deng the pygmy hippo in Pattaya.
