Shohrat Zakir, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (3rd from right) and Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Thailand's National Assembly President and Speaker of the House of Representatives at the reception in Beijing, on June 23, 2025 Photo: WeChat official account of the CPAFFC

The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Royal Thai Embassy in China jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand at a reception held in Beijing on June 23. Delegates from both countries vowed to continue cooperation and build a community with a share future.  

In his speech, Shohrat Zakir, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), said that over the past five decades, no matter what the international changes have taken place, China and Thailand have always helped and supported each other and worked together. The long-lasting "China-Thailand family" has opened a new chapter, offering a model of win-win cooperation between countries. At the same time, the sound relations have brought tangible benefits to both peoples. 

He said that China is willing to work with Thailand to consolidate political mutual trust and expand beneficial cooperation. Through inheriting friendship and practicing multilateralism, the two countries can create a new golden 50 years while building a community with a shared future. 

Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Thailand's National Assembly President and Speaker of the House of Representatives said in his remarks that the past half century has witnessed the two countries promoting cooperation in politics, the economy, trade, education, and culture. 

Wan Noor said that despite the international and domestic changes, the Thai-China friendship and cooperation have never wavered, but have become increasingly solid thanks to the joint efforts of both sides. 

The two countries have forged a deep and solid friendship. He echoed that the phrase "Thailand and China are one family" confirms the deep-rooted close ties. 

He said that Thailand supports the Belt and Road Initiative and is willing to deepen the Thai-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and jointly promote the building of a more stable, prosperous, and sustainable Thai-China community with a shared future. 

The Chinese government and the government of the Kingdom of Thailand, on February 8, issued a joint statement on advancing a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building a China-Thailand community with a shared future for enhanced stability, prosperity, and sustainability through a forward-looking and people-centered vision.

The two sides underlined the importance of people-to-people exchanges as a cornerstone of their bilateral ties and agreed to enhance and expand practical cooperation in key areas such as culture and education, especially in improving vocational, socio-cultural and language skills, media and communication, sister cities, and soft power. 

Moreover, both sides agreed to further utilize the mutual visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders in facilitating people-to-people exchanges. 

They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in tourism through promoting high-quality tourism, new forms of tourism, and tourist safety, as well as encouraging airlines to increase direct flights between lesser-known cities in both countries, according to the full text of the statement.