by Paul Rujopakarn
    
BANGKOK (NNT) - Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha on Saturday (19 Nov), during which Xi congratulated Thailand on its success in hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting. He also stressed the millennia-old friendship between China and Thailand and the fraternity between its two peoples.

 

Over the past ten years since China and Thailand established the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, their traditional friendship has gained even greater strength. Xi noted that the partnership has continued to deepen and bilateral relations have entered a new development stage.

 

At this new historic starting point, China said it will work with Thailand to carry forward the special bond that "China and Thailand are as close as one family."

 

The Thai prime minister in turn extended warm congratulations on the successful 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and on Xi’s election as general-secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

 

He also said Thailand supports the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative put forward by Xi and supports China in playing a greater role in regional and international affairs.

 

President Xi arrived in Bangkok on Thursday (17 Nov) to attend the 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Delivering a speech Friday at the meeting, Xi called for building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

 

In his speech, Xi stressed the need to follow the spirit of the Asia-Pacific family, look after one another like passengers in the same boat, and steadily move toward an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

 

He also said that "over the past decades, robust economic cooperation in the region has created the ’Asia-Pacific miracle’ admired across the world. Asia-Pacific cooperation has taken deep roots in the hearts of the people."

 

On Saturday, Xi said that free and open trade and investment are among the purposes and principles of APEC, and an important pillar in the realization of the Putrajaya Vision 2040.

 

Additionally, the Chinese president stressed the importance of upholding true multilateralism and defending the multilateral trading system, upholding inclusiveness for the benefit of all, and upholding open regional cooperation for the prosperity of the Asia-Pacific.

 

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221121134602893

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-11-22

 

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I guess that is as close to a handshake as Prayut will get.

What has Thailand agreed to that makes it enough to solicit a mask-free handshake from China? Something's changed from the handshake rebuff the other day.

Covid must be over, it is now ok for Xi to shake Prayut's hand.

 

Btw - is Prayut crying in that picture?

13 minutes ago, tjintx said:

Btw - is Prayut crying in that picture?

He looks bamboozled, shafted and perplexed.

1 hour ago, rbkk said:

1 hour ago, tjintx said:

Btw - is Prayut crying in that picture?

He looks bamboozled, shafted and perplexed.

Maybe he just realized that he was duped into handing over the keys to the country ????

 

Edited November 22, 20223 yr by kotsak

Prayut eyes appear to be cast downward rather than towards Xi's face.

As would be appropriate between a servant and master.

 

In September 2022 it was reported that the first phase of a high-speed train linking Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima will be completed in 2027, a year behind schedule thus far. Even then not a connection to China's planned Silk Road train system. As Prayut financed 100% from China and behind schedule, he has little cause to consider himself an equal to Xi publicly in a photo op. I think Xi's hand shake is a reminder of how Prayut has tied Thailand economically to China. Xi might be saying with his hand shake, "I'm not letting you (Prayut) go." 

Cha-Cha, get someone to google the Thai equivalent of "Treated with Disdain".????????

Old picture??? or is the fear for Covid gone?

3 days of utter BS, and now pats on the backs all round at how ell we all did.

where's the next pee-up?

22 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

I guess that is as close to a handshake as Prayut will get.

I wonder of Xi slipped him an "You owe me" note in the handshake