Trump effect? China calls for closer ties with Thailand over ‘changes not seen for 100 years’

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Thursday met Chinese President Xi Jinping. Jinping highlighted the need for advancing cooperation between China and Thailand in the face of growing global uncertainties.

This is Shinawatra’s first visit to China since she took office in August 2024. It also marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The meeting in Beijing also comes at a time when China is facing tariff threats from the US whose president Donald Trump announced a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese goods. Beijing, at the same time, has declared that it will impose retaliatory levies on Washington.

What did the leaders discuss in the meeting?

During his meeting with the Thai PM, Xi cited projects such as a high-speed railway set to link Bangkok with southwestern China’s Kunming, adding that the digital economy and electric vehicles were additional areas for greater cooperation.

“In the face of unprecedented changes not seen for a 100 years, China and Thailand should deepen mutual trust over strategic interests and firmly support each other,” state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) quoted Xi as saying.

Meanwhile, Thailand, concerned about the impact on its vital tourism sector, has sought to allay safety concerns among the Chinese, who contribute to the largest group of visitors to the Southeast Asian nation.

“The safety of people and tourists visiting Thailand is the government’s highest priority,” Paetongtarn said, adding that both nations would cooperate on a warning system to fight crime.

“Thailand is ready to work with China to suppress criminal activity that passes through Thailand.”

China-US tariff war

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi are going back and forth on imposing tariffs. China has announced retaliatory levies on American goods in response to Trump’s tariffs. However, despite this POTUS is in no hurry to speak to the Chinese president to try and defuse a possible trade war.

“That’s fine,” Trump said at the White House when asked about China’s retaliatory duties. A conversation between Xi and Trump, like conversations with Mexican and Canadian leaders on Monday, is seen as key to a potential easing or delay of tariffs.

Defending China’s tit-for-tat move, its foreign ministry said, “The measures taken by China are necessary to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. There are no winners in a trade war or a tariff war.”

With inputs from agencies