CICG holds seminar in Thailand on BRI, youth exchange

A seminar titled "Contemporary China with the World: An Exchange of a New Generation Between Thailand and China" was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday. The seminar focused on the responsibilities of young people in contributing to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and was part of the Panda Cup, a series of activities that aim to help Thai youth better understand China. 

Han Zhiqiang, the Chinese ambassador to Thailand, delivers a speech at a seminar in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 24, 2023. [Photo/CICG]

Han Zhiqiang, the Chinese ambassador to Thailand, highlighted the benefits of the BRI during his keynote speech at the event. He explained that Thailand — as an important junction on the Belt and Road — both participates in and benefits from the initiative, and that its development strategies and plans match BRI objectives. 

He added that through the Panda Cup held in Thailand, Thai youth representatives discussed China's development, bilateral relations, and China-ASEAN relations, as well as contributed their wisdom to jointly building the Belt and Road. 

Gao Anming, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), delivers a speech at a seminar in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 24, 2023. [Photo/CICG]

In recent years, China and Thailand have made significant progress in building the Belt and Road, deepened comprehensive strategic cooperation, and advanced bilateral relations to a new level, said Gao Anming, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG). He called for building and utilizing dialogue platforms to enhance youth exchange, and promoting scientific and technological cooperation between Chinese and Thai youth. CICG will carry out more bilateral events to promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road and contribute more to building a China-Thailand community with a shared future for enhanced stability, prosperity, and sustainability, Gao said. 

At a roundtable dialogue, Thai youth representatives from the government, media, think tanks, companies, and cultural institutions discussed cultural exchange, innovation, cooperation, and the joint responsibilities of Thai and Chinese youth under the BRI. 

At the award ceremony for the Panda Cup Thailand Youth Essay Contest held during the seminar, a total of 16 awards were presented. 

In addition, the results of a survey on Thai people's perceptions of China's national image were released at the seminar. The survey has found that people in Thailand have increasingly more demand for China-related information and that the Belt and Road has become a symbol of China in the eyes of Thai people.