Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul meets with Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Zhang Jianwei (left) on January 15, 2026. Photo: Chinese Embassy in Thailand

While meeting with Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Thursday, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Zhang Jianwei expressed sincere condolences over the casualties caused by the catastrophic crane collapse on a high-speed railway project. The ambassador said that China is willing to guide its companies to actively cooperate with the Thai investigation and believes the Thai side will reach an objective and fair conclusion.

Zhang said that the China-Thailand railway is a Belt and Road cooperation project jointly built by the two countries. The first phase is funded and constructed by the Thai side, with relevant Chinese companies providing technical support in a supervisory capacity. China attaches great importance to project and personnel safety and has consistently required Chinese companies to participate in cooperation in accordance with laws and regulations, according to a release from the Chinese Embassy.

Prime Minister Anutin thanked the Chinese side for its condolences, saying that Thailand attaches great importance to the China-Thailand railway project and that the involvement of relevant Chinese companies in project supervision is lawful and compliant. The Thai government is conducting an urgent and comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the accident as soon as possible, according to the release. 

The tragic construction crane collapse onto a Special Express train in Sikhio, Nakhon Ratchasima, has concluded its search and rescue phase. The death toll has risen to 32 fatalities, according to a report from The Nation Thailand.

During a press conference on January 14, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning noted that the Chinese government attaches high importance to the safety of projects. The Chinese side is gathering detailed information about the accident. Current information indicates that the construction of relevant railway section is undertaken by a Thai company. 

Global Times