Thai-Chinese relations entering a new era of 'tangible progress'

[webfact]

Thai-Chinese relations entering a new era of 'tangible progress'

BANGKOK: -- China's ambassador to Thailand Ning Fukui discusses rail development, economic cooperation and more, in an exclusive interview with Suthichai Yoon, adviser to the editorial board of Nation Multimedia Group

What has been the most tangible example of progress between China and Thailand since you became ambassador in 2013?

I would say it is the railway development project. Our two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding, established a joint committee, and so on. It is a pleasure to see tangible progress on the project. We will next sign off on a bigger framework at the end of next month [December]. Bangkok looks forward to seeing appropriate loan interest rates offered by Beijing.

The loan interest rates offered by China for the rail project were initially rather high, especially when compared with those offered by Japan.

We will definitely offer Thailand loans with a rate lower than [other] foreign financing. We have offered Thailand the rate of 2.5 per cent. We will be willing to negotiate on the matter … please wait and see.

You have denied reports of a condition that China must be permitted to utilise a 1-kilometre-wide strip alongside the railway.

We never asked for the privilege for such special utility. But if Thailand wishes to develop land alongside the railway and China wishes to join, that will be another case.

China reportedly uses the land alongside the railway in a similar project in Laos.

I haven't received any information on the matter. I'm also not sure where the media heard it from. But I can say that there will be none for the China-Thailand project.

When would you like to see the railway start operating?

We have significant experience in constructing railway infrastructure. We require less time on projects than many other countries do and we have a construction guarantee. Of all 18,000 kilometres of high-speed train running around the world, 60 per cent of it belongs to China. Thus, the Thai government can be assured that once Beijing starts constructing, we will do it with high performance and guarantees on safety and quality.

The railway project is a part of China's "One Belt, One Road" strategy. What other developments does the strategy include?

The "One Belt, One Road" strategy aims to deeply integrate all-round developments between China and other countries in the region. Apart from the railway construction, we could also cooperate with development of other infrastructure, such as ports and airports. We are also focusing on a new policy of the Thai Cabinet in developing "super clusters" - 10 target industrial groups.

There has been a report that Beijing will be involved in construction of a Kra Isthmus Canal, though China has denied signing any deal.

Our government has never talked about such a project, and the embassy saw that only in the media. It might be undeniable that there could be some Chinese and Thai private sectors keen to cooperate on the said project. But when speaking of our government, we will only respect opinions from the Thai government.

Thailand is mulling whether to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), while there is also the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), in which China has a significant role. Where do you think Bangkok should stand on the two trade agreements?

We are open to all supportive economic mechanisms in the Asia-Pacific region. However, it must be recalled that countries in the region have different [levels of] economic development and have their own economic needs. To develop a free trade area, we can't ignore this kind of difference, and we are focusing on this no less than others do. To push for the FTA in Asia-Pacific, we need fair negotiation and compromise. In the recently concluded [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] summit, there has been tangible progress on the RCEP discussion and the deal should be settled by next year. Successful talk on the RCEP marks economic development and investment in the region.

Some say that the US has developed the TPP as a balance against Chinese power and that China has developed the RCEP to counter that move.

It's normal to have different voices in society. It's just impossible for Asia-Pacific, and any other region in the world, to hold only one free-trade mechanism.

So you don't think the United States is using the TPP to block Chinese influence in the region?

It is well known that the Chinese economy has been progressing fast, and we will definitely move forward, with no other countries able to obstruct us.

Recently, China has faced challenges from the US, for example in the South China Sea dispute. Will the situation intensify?

Overall, situation in the South China Sea has been stabilised in terms of freedom of navigation, although some countries have taken control over some Chinese archipelagos. The issue became a hot topic because some countries, inside and outside the region, attempted to point at our infrastructures built on our islands and tried to make headlines. We built [it] within our sovereignty, and the infrastructures are mostly to answer civil needs. Only some was built for security reasons and it will in no way affect freedom of navigation in the region. Some countries should rather support attempts to develop stability and freedom in the sea region than provoke and intensify the matter. Also, we have cooperated with Asean members on development in the South China Sea.

What could Thailand - which is not in a disputant in the South China Sea - do to bring better understanding between China and disputing Asean countries.

That's a very important issue. We are aware of our important roles in such areas as Asean relations and the South China Sea issue. I strongly hope that the Thai government will move forward as a coordinator between us and disputing [Asean] countries, that both parties will understand security and freedom in the sea region. All sides should be considerate to overall Chinese-Asean relations when managing the South China Sea matter.

Do you think that China and Asean really listen to Bangkok?

We have maintained tight negotiations on both the South China Sea and other China-Asean issues. All parties understand each other well, and we are willing to listen to positive and creative suggestions from Thailand.

So, why did the Thailand-coordinated Code of Conduct (CoC) on the South China Sea dispute fail?

We consider the CoC important and wish it to be accomplished fast so that we can solve other issues in the sea region.

There is concern that the South China Sea dispute will lead to war.

I think that unless countries provoke the issue, war will not happen in the region. We insist on using a peaceful approach to directly negotiate with other disputing countries, and there should be no problem if [they] agree with us [on that approach].

The US Ambassador to Thailand recently expressed disappointment at Bangkok's decision to deport two Chinese dissidents back to China after they had been recognised as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

This is a very obvious issue. The activists are Chinese citizens who violated immigration regulations. The action followed security cooperation between the two countries. China is a legal state and we will treat them fairly as well as process everything legitimately. Thus, to me, concerns on the matter from other countries are unreasonable. We also haven't received sufficient evidence of their recognition as refugees by the UNHCR, but we strongly hope that they will not make Chinese law violators a political agenda.

The deportation came after the Thai government earned international criticism for forcibly repatriating about 100 Uighur Muslims to China earlier this year. Some say this is evidence of pressure from the Chinese government.

The repatriation was done [according to] Thailand's and China's awareness of the matter. China will treat the Uighur people fairly and legitimately. So, the said concerns are unreasonable. I think Thailand and China, much like the rest of the world, are committed to fighting human trafficking. Thus, the repatriation was done under cooperation between the countries … Beijing did not press Bangkok to do so.

There has also been concern that terrorism, such as that occurring in the Uighur homeland of Xinjiang, will spread to Asean member countries, including Thailand.

International terrorism has taken the lives of four Chinese nationals recently. China, like global society, condemns such actions. We are willing to cooperate with the world against terrorists no matter where they are and why they operate.

Is China increasing its involvement with Thailand in military exercises?

There has been tangible progress in that. For instance, our air forces performed combat demonstrations together in Nakhon Ratchasima on Thursday [November 26]. It was the first time that the Chinese air force had given [such a] demonstration in Thailand.

Should Thais be concerned about the Chinese economy's so-called "new normal"?

Our economy has progressed rapidly in the past three decades and is now going through structural reforms that will eventually lead to innovation. We have been growing with two-digit growth rate per year and now we're shrinking it to only 7 per cent per year. This is to achieve high-performing and sustainable economic development and is certainly not an easy thing to do. During the recent Chinese Communist Party plenum, we set a national five-year development strategy, and also five focuses to develop our economy: innovation, balance, reconciliation, eco-friendliness and fair relative gains. We targeted a doubling of GDP in the next five years from that in 2010. The expected volume will be as much as US$17 trillion. To achieve this, our economy has to grow between 6.5 and 7.5 per cent in the next five years. I can say that our economic future is bright. Although there are some concerns at our continually declining economy, it is rather a middle-rate sustainable economic development, as intended by the Chinese government.

Many countries are keeping their eye on the Chinese economy as something that has a big impact on the whole world, positive or negative. For instance, observers of the Thai economy must also look at the Chinese one.

I would say that our economy trend is bright. In 2014, foreign investment in our country was $120 billion; during the first three quarters of this year it was $100 billion. Our leader [Xi Jinping] has visited the United Kingdom, while German and French leaders have visited China. This shows that the West puts faith in us and trusts our economy and market. In the next decade, we aim to raise investment as high as $1.25 trillion, with $10 trillion worth of imports. Currently, the China-Asean trade value is $500 billion, but we will take it to $1 trillion in the next five years.

So that means China will become the No 1 investor in Thailand in the next few years?

China is Thailand's No 1 trade partner and Asean's No 3 investor. If we look back to when the two countries first established trade ties, our trade value back then was only at $25 million, but now it has hit $72 billion. Our bilateral investments have also risen to $6 billion today. However, our trade is still not much in volume terms. We can rely on [new] projects, such as the railway construction project, to rapidly increase investment volume. Once completed, the railway will also lead to other investment and economic relations. The boost will produce more economic thrust between the countries. If we could have the Chinese private sector competitively engaged more in 10 industrial sectors, as the Thai government suggests, that would surely multiply investment volume [in Thailand].

What is the clearest picture of cooperation between our two countries you have witnessed during your two years and three months in Thailand.

I have felt true brotherhood with Thai people and welcome all sorts of cooperation [between our countries]. Our 40-year diplomatic relationship has been successful, though it is in the past. Now that we are stepping into the fifth decade of relations we will turn them into tangible cooperation. To succeed, the two countries have to understand and trust each other. However …. I feel that some Thai people have received … incomplete information on Chinese politics, society and the economy. For example, many Thai media outlets rely heavily on Western media when reporting Chinese news. This may result in incomplete reports about what happens in China.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Thai-Chinese-relations-entering-a-new-era-of-tangi-30274063.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-01

[trogers]

We have an enormously oversupply in our capital industry, and you need financing. That's the tangible progress...

[MZurf]

We have an enormously oversupply in our capital industry, and you need financing. That's the tangible progress...

Thailand needs a new friend/big brother, one that doesn't criticize and make demands - especially about insignificant subjects like human rights, trafficking and democracy. That's one area the "PM" has made tangible progress in. Unfortunately, it's the only area.

[ParadiseLost]

We have maintained tight negotiations on both the South China Sea and other China-Asean issues. All parties understand each other well, and we are willing to listen to positive and creative suggestions from Thailand.

So, why did the Thailand-coordinated Code of Conduct (CoC) on the South China Sea dispute fail?

We consider the CoC important and wish it to be accomplished fast so that we can solve other issues in the sea region.

There is concern that the South China Sea dispute will lead to war.

I think that unless countries provoke the issue, war will not happen in the region. We insist on using a peaceful approach to directly negotiate with other disputing countries, and there should be no problem if [they] agree with us [on that approach].

"we are willing to listen to positive and creative suggestions from Thailand." He forgot to add "any negative comments are irrelevant"...

"...unless countries provoke the issue, war will not happen in the region" So - leave us alone to do as we please, or else it will lead to war? Stuff international laws and treaties - we want so we will take.

Welcome to Thailand, one of China's southernmost provinces. Until Australia and NZ are usurped, anyway.

[Srikcir]

"The railway project is a part of China's "One Belt, One Road" strategy. What other developments does the strategy include?"

Answer: One Nation, One System of Governance.

[ronwparker]

Thailand needs helps from Japan,China and other Asean Countries because of many projects which the country cannot afford because sadly most of the wealth is owned by a very small group(many of whom are Thai/Chinese!

[ParadiseLost]

What has been the most tangible example of progress between China and Thailand since you became ambassador in 2013?

I would say it is the railway development project. Our two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding, established a joint committee, and so on

adjective

tangible:

perceptible by touch

Tangible, as in the envelopes have been handed out now? Nothing else tangible as far as I see, unless the signed memorandum suffices.

Are the costs of endless meetings and junkets with huge entourages a tangible thing as well? What is and so on?

Jolly good show though, considering its only taken 2 years...

[Thai at Heart]

They deny 1km access along side the railway..... This will be very interesting to watch.

[EyesWideOpen]

Guess China did some research on railway development in America

during the 1800s. Time for a land grab !!

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3406400787.html

The law provided that companies agreeing to undertake the construction of transcontinental railroad lines would be eligible for loans ranging from $16,000 to $48,000 per mile of track laid. The precise amount of the loan was determined by the difficulty of the terrain through which the construction passed. The government loaned a total of $64,623,512 to the transcontinental companies. These loans were for the most part paid back at six percent interest. The law also provided that a company could be given up to twenty sections (a section is a square mile) of land for every mile of track put down. This land would be granted in alternate sections (a kind of checkerboard pattern) within an area lying forty miles on either side of the proposed right of way.