LUO HAIYUN

ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA OF THAILAND ON COOPERATION UNDER BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE

LUO HAIYUN

Recently, Contemporary World had a written interview with H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva, n under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. Below is the transcript of the interview. Please enjoy your reading.

Interviewer: Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013, China has been actively promoting connectivity between the development strategies of countries along the Belt and Road in the principle of achieving common development and shared growth through joint consultation. Your Excellency, how would you evaluate the Belt and Road initiative? Where do you think its uniqueness and advantages lie, compared with other regional economic cooperation mechanisms?

H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva: The Belt and Road Initiative has its unique advantages compared with other regional economic cooperation mechanisms. Other regional economic cooperation mechanisms mainly emphasize open and free trade and investment markets or the development of relevant economic rules. Such mechanisms may bring some benefits, but they also lead to disagreement and contradictions because changes in the agreements or the rules of cooperation may advance or undermine the benefits of certain countries. The Belt and Road Initiative focuses on improving the infrastructure of countries involved and stimulating their economic growth by tapping the potential and creating new opportunities for economic development, which is in line with the common interests of all countries along the Belt and Road After all, development and prosperity bring true and tangible benefits to the people.

Interviewer: During the past four years, over 100 countries and international organizations have supported the Belt and Road Initiative. China has signed cooperation agreements with over 50 countries. However, dif fi culties and challenges are sometimes inevitable. Your Excellency, what do you think the most prominent issues are in pursuing the Belt and Road initiative? What risk mitigation measures should stakeholders adopt to promote cooperation?

H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva: All international cooperation mechanisms face challenges in political, economic, security and other areas. The reason might be that some countries feel their interests are damaged in the above-mentioned areas. I think the most prominent challenge facing the Belt and Road Initiative is how to ensure sound economic development in a peaceful and stable environment while promoting the orderly participation of countries to overcome difficulties through mutual assistance. The Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed by China and at present the Chinese government is engaged in consultation on bilateral agreements with related countries. Maybe certain platforms or mechanisms can be established in the future so that countries along the Belt and Road can fully exchange views and follow up the progress of projects.Such platforms and mechanisms will help boost coordination among countries, expand cooperation areas, better launch cooperation programs, and to speed up project progress. For example, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, originally proposed by China, has clearly turned into a multilateral cooperation mechanism with the participation of other countries.

Interviewer: Thailand is a friendly neighbor of China as well as an important participating country in the Belt and Road Initiative. Your Excellency, what kind of comparative advantages do you think China and Thailand can leverage to complement each other’s development? In what areas do you fi nd cooperation most satisfactory at present? In what areas do you expect strengthened cooperation in the future?

H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva: As Sino-Thai relations continue to deepen, the two countries see closer bilateral cooperation, especially in economy and trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges. Bilateral cooperation between us surely has broad prospects. If all provinces in China establish a closer partnership with Thailand, it will help enrich our relations. Moreover, enhanced cooperation in infrastructure and education between our two countries will also bring benefits to economic and trade cooperation.

Interviewer: As a landmark project of Sino-Thai cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, the building of China-Thailand high-speed railway has made positive progress. Your Excellency, what do you think of the project and its prospect?

H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva: China-Thailand high-speed railway was launched during my term as Prime Minister of Thailand. I have always supported the building of the railway. My present concern is that the progress is relatively slow and there are still details waiting to be finalized, the sooner the better. China and Thailand should see the cooperation project as one that connects and involves the ASEAN region, with the ultimate goal of improving connectivity between China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Interviewer: The Communist Party of China enjoys a long-term friendship with the Democratic Party of Thailand. Both Parties have played a positive role in promoting political trust and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries in many areas. Your Excellency, what do you think of the role that political parties can play in advancing cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative?

H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva: Party-to-party exchanges provide important channels for promoting state-to-state relations and people-to-people connectivity. Political parties can play a bigger role in deepening the friendly relations between the two countries by reaching out and helping people understand that enhanced bilateral relations are in the interests of both sides. Closer ties with the people will help political parties gather more public advice on and support for the Belt and Road cooperation program, which will ultimately contribute to its success. More advice means more inspirations and more cooperation opportunities.

Interviewer: In May 2017, China hosted the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, which has become an important platform for strengthening international cooperation and promoting connectivity between the development strategies of countries. Your Excellency, as a senior statesman in Thailand, what do you think of the forum?

H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva: I have always been very supportive of this kind of forums. Such forums facilitate the rapid implementation of specific programs and help remove obstacles resulting from the lack of communication. I hope that the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will become a long-term mechanism.

10.19422/j.cnki.cn10-1398/d.2017.03.005