Secretary-General Chen Dehai attended the launching ceremony of Keywords to Understand China: BRI (Thai version) & High-profile Think Tank Dialogue

Source:ASEAN-China Centre
On 14 March 2019, co-organized by the Institute for the Study of Contemporary China and the World, China Report, the Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Center and Thai-Chinese Journalist Association, the launching ceremony of Keywords to Understand China: BRI (Thai version) & high-profile think tank dialogue was successfully held in Bangkok, Thailand. On behalf of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), the supporter of the event, Secretary-General Chen Dehai attended the ceremony and addressed the audience along with Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand Mr. Yang Xin, Vice Editor-in-chief of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration and President of China Report Press Ms. Chen Shi, Deputy Director General of the Institute for the Study of Contemporary China and the World and Secretary-General of China Academy of Translation Ms. Yang Ping, Thai Vice Minister for Culture Ms. Chaweerat Kasetsoonthorn, and Deputy Director General of Thai Government Public Relations Department Mr. Charoon Chaisorn.
 
Secretary-General Chen Dehai pointed out in his speech that the book Keywords to Understand China: BRI not only serves as a window for the international community to understand China's philosophy of governance, but also testifies to the growing China-ASEAN relations, an important part of which consists of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative. Located in a key area for the BRI cooperation, and as China’s close neighbors, ASEAN countries have reaped abundant dividends through mutually beneficial cooperation with China. The two sides have achieved closer policy coordination, developed stronger trade relations, enjoyed greater financial integration, realized better connectivity of infrastructure, and built closer people-to-people ties.
He emphasized that Thailand is an active promoter of ASEAN-China relations and has maintained close and good cooperation with China under the framework of ASEAN-China cooperation. As Thailand assumes the rotating chair of ASEAN this year, he looks forward to seeing Thailand's unique role in elevating ASEAN-China relations to a new level.
Vice Minister Ms. Chaweerat said that the friendship and frequent exchanges between the two peoples keep Thailand-China relations moving forward. The publication of the book will strengthen communication between the two peoples and deepen the Thai people's understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative. It is hoped that the friendship between Thailand and China will last forever.
Deputy Director General Mr. Charoon said that Thailand supports and actively participates in the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative. As the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2019, Thailand expects the ASEAN countries to actively carry out all-round cooperation, especially with China. This year, China and Thailand will jointly produce media programs and documentaries about the BRI and make the long-standing friendship between the two countries even closer.
Minister Counselor Mr. Yang Xin said that China-Thailand relations are currently in the best period of history and face major development opportunities. China will continue to work together with the Thai side to effectively synergize the BRI with Thailand's development strategy to give fresh and powerful impetus into the development of China-Thailand relations, and to revitalize the traditional friendship between the China and Thailand as one family.
Deputy Editor-in-Chief Ms. Chen Shi said that China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration attaches great importance to promoting international exchanges and mutual learning among media and think tanks. As the China-ASEAN Year of Media Exchanges began to unfurl, she hoped to work together with all relevant parties to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Thai side.
 
After the speeches, Secretary-General Chen Dehai, together with other honoured guests from China and Thailand, unveiled the book titled Keywords to Understand China: BRI (Thai version), and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration and the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association.
The launching ceremony was followed by a high-profile think tank dialogue with the theme of “China and Thailand work together to build a community of shared future in Asia”. Nearly 150 media representatives and experts from China and Thailand participated in the event. Both sides appreciated the outcomes of the dialogue between their think tanks.
During his stay in Bangkok, Secretary-General Chen Dehai exchanged views with Mr. Lyu Jian, the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, and visited the Thailand-China Business Council, the Thai-Chinese Cultural and Economic Association, the Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Center, CAS Innovation Cooperation Centre (Bangkok) and the Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group). He had extensive exchange of views with people from all sectors on Thailand-China relations and ASEAN-China relations.