STORY: Thailand ready to continue traditional friendship with China: Thai PM
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 6, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 8, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:21
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of China
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PAETONGTARN SHINAWATRA, Thai Prime Minister
3. various of the high-speed rail project
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PAETONGTARN SHINAWATRA, Thai Prime Minister
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): PAETONGTARN SHINAWATRA, Thai Prime Minister
6. various of Thailand

STORYLINE:

Thailand is committed to continuing its traditional friendship with China, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra told Xinhua on Thursday in an interview during her official visit to China.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PAETONGTARN SHINAWATRA, Thai Prime Minister
"Thailand and China, we have a very awesome relationship for a long time, especially the diplomatic relationship for 50 years now."

Thai Cabinet on Tuesday approved the second phase of the high-speed rail project, which connects Thailand with China via Laos.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PAETONGTARN SHINAWATRA, Thai Prime Minister
"The construction of the train now is in the Phase II. So everything has got approved by the cabinet already. So I think we can get a lot of benefits out of this in the near future from Thailand to China and to Laos as well. So about the trade and selling all the products, I think this gonna help people in our countries a lot and it's gonna benefit us a lot as well. So not only we can create more income for the people, but of course, the relationship between both countries gonna be better as well."

Paetongtarn highlighted that about 6.7 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand in 2024, reflecting a steady upward trend. She stressed that Thailand places great importance on visitor safety and that she had personally held multiple discussions with police and law enforcement agencies to ensure the security of Chinese tourists.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): PAETONGTARN SHINAWATRA, Thai Prime Minister
"I personally look into all the securities myself. I talk to the police, I talk to the military and everybody who's involved about this, to be able to take care of everybody that wants to come to Thailand. They have to be safe. We will protect them with our best. We very welcome you to Thailand."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)