On 13 December 2016, the “Thailand-China Culture and Tourism Motorcade” arrived in Bangkok and the celebration of its arrival was held in the Bangkok China Culture Centre. Nearly 500 guests, including H.E. Dr. Wisanu Kreagnam, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Ning Fukui, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Mr. Phinij Jarusombat, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and President of Thai-Chinese Cultural and Friendship Council, Mr. Sugree Suthivanich, Deputy Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand, attended the celebration. Upon the invitation of Mr. Phinij Jarusombat, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) Secretary-General H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping attended this event.
Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu expressed in his speech that the “Thailand-China Culture and Tourism Motorcade Tour” had a great significance in 2015. The event was in conjunction with the celebrations on the 40th anniversary of Thailand-China diplomatic relations, the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the 60th Birthday Anniversary of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand and the fully realization of the ASEAN Community. The Motorcade had been spreading friendship along the way, and promoted China’s deep culture deposits and Thailand’s rich natural resources through the photographs taken during the tour. He sent special congratulations to the Motorcade and hoped that the two sides would take this innovative event as a new starting point to deepen cooperation in culture and tourism between Thailand and China.
Ambassador Ning remarked that the “Thailand-China Culture and Tourism Motorcade Tour” was one of the celebrations of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. It was also a concrete measure by the two countries to promote the building of the “Belt and Road”. Co-organized by China International Culture Association, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai-Chinese Cultural and Friendship Council, the Motorcade Tour aimed to strengthen exchanges between the 6 provinces in China and more than 20 provinces in Thailand. Reporters of major media from both countries participated in and made media coverage throughout the whole trip, and spread the news of China-Thailand friendship. By connecting the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road, the anticipated objective of expanding tourism cooperation through cultural exchanges had been achieved. It was expected that the two sides could continue to explore new ways of cooperation in the areas of culture and tourism on the basis of this joint programme.
The Motorcade started its journey from Altay City in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China on 16 November 2015. ACC was one of the supporters of the event. Mr. Sun Jianhua, Deputy Director of Education, Culture and Tourism Division (ECTD) of ACC attended the launching ceremony. Journalists from the Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, Guangming Daily, China Central Television, China Radio International, Thai Public Broadcasting Service, Thai Channel 3, and Thai Nature Explorer interviewed the event.