Meetings put spotlight on shared aspirations of Southeast Asian countries and China

Chinese President Xi Jinping's respective meetings with visiting Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah and Prime Minister of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Beijing on Thursday set new guidelines for the healthy development of relations between China and the two Southeast Asian countries.

In the past three decades since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Brunei have deepened political mutual trust, aligned their development strategies and achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields. The relationship between the two countries serves as an exemplary model of equality, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation between nations of different sizes.

China stands ready to collaborate closely with Brunei to bring about mutual benefits for the two peoples. The two nations should enhance their cooperation by aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with Brunei's Vision 2035 strategy, promoting key projects such as the Guangxi-Brunei Economic Corridor and the Hengyi Petrochemical Refinery, and establishing the China-ASEAN Eastern Growth Area and New Land-Sea Corridor dual hub.

China is willing to encourage more companies to invest and start businesses in Brunei, support the country in developing its digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy industries, and promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to continually consolidate the foundation for the two countries to be, as President Xi said, good neighbors across the sea, good friends who trust each other, and good partners for common development.

In his meeting later that day with the Thai prime minister, Xi spoke highly of what the two countries have achieved since the establishment of diplomatic relations half a century ago, during which the two nations have upheld the principles of mutual respect, equality, sincerity, and mutual assistance, supporting each other in safeguarding national interests.

As Xi said, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand and "50 golden years of China-Thailand friendship". The two sides should carry forward the past and move forward side by side to push forward the construction of a China-Thailand community with a shared future in a deeper and more practical way.

To that end, they should consolidate their strategic mutual trust, and the stability in China-Thailand relations should be effectively utilized to address external uncertainties.

China is committed to aligning its development strategies with Thailand, expanding cooperation, implementing key projects such as the China-Thailand Railway, and advancing the concept of China-Laos-Thailand connectivity. Collaboration in emerging fields like the digital economy and new energy vehicles is set to be deepened to create stable regional industry and supply chains.

China is willing to maintain close communication and coordination with Thailand. It supports Thailand in its role as co-chair of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism and congratulates Thailand on becoming a BRICS partner country. The two nations are encouraged to work together to defend the international system based on the United Nations and international law, enhance solidarity in the Global South, and promote global peace and development.

That Thailand cut off electricity, internet access and fuel supplies to some areas of Myanmar, which are suspected of housing the telecom scam operations, shortly before the Thai prime minister's visit should be taken as a positive gesture of the country in response to China's call that it work with China to strengthen law enforcement cooperation, and crack down on the online gambling and telecom fraud that harm the collective interest of the region.

The two visiting leaders' active responses to Xi's call, positive comments on their countries' relations with China, and the warm Spring Festival wishes they extended to the Chinese people represent a common wish of the Asian countries for a harmonious neighborhood, stable development environment and common development. The visiting presidents of Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also conveyed similar messages in their respective meetings with the top Chinese leader on Wednesday. The regional aspirations are expected to be vividly shown in the get-together of the Asian family at the opening of the Asian Winter Games convened in Harbin on Friday. China remains committed to realizing these aspirations through tangible actions and projects, contributing to regional prosperity.