One Decade of BRI, Global Community of Shared Future

by Ph.D Tharakron Wusatirakul Deputy Director / Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Center / Office of The National Research Council of Thailand. (NRCT) 

The Belt and Road Initiative seeks to advance the shared development and prosperity of countries along the route and is also an initiative of China’s foreign economic cooperation. Over the past 10 years, the Belt and Road cooperation has gradually taken hold in Thailand and become a new impetus for promoting practical cooperation between the two countries.  

The conventional economic and trade cooperation between China and Thailand has great potential. Notably, the digital economy, green economy and new energy economic cooperation have emerged as prominent focal points and main drivers of the mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries.  

The China-Thailand Railway is a landmark cooperation project in their joint pursuit of Belt and Road development. Thailand is investing in the project and China is cooperating and fully supporting it. The railway will be the first modern standard gauge railway in Thailand and even in the Indochina Peninsula. In the future, it will connect with the China-Laos Railway to form a fast channel from southwest China to the Gulf of Thailand and provide a convenient route for people and goods between China and Thailand, and other ASEAN countries. The enhanced transportation will bring more convenience and also boost economic development along the route.

The Thai government is actively promoting the construction of the Eastern Economic Corridor and recognizing China’s expertise and technologies in infrastructure construction. According to the Thai government’s plan, the first phase of the project is set to conclude and become operational by 2026, with the entire route anticipated to accessible for traffic by 2028.

The upcoming China-Thailand Railway, combined with its integration with the China-Laos Railway, will form a railway axis traversing the Indochina Peninsula, contributing a bigger economic advantage to the region. After achieving connectivity in the future, both sides can open more freight express lines and tourist trains. This will facilitate the implementation of the principle “goods go north, tourists go south”, forming an efficient and convenient channel for both passenger traffic and logistics. By that time, the people of China and Thailand will witness a more profound economic integration and development, relish closer cultural exchanges, and collectively embrace shared prosperity and progress. 

China and Thailand stand at a new historical juncture and should seize the great opportunity stemming from the vigorous development of regional cooperation. Both countries should strive to establish a joint Belt and Road demonstration zone, a pioneering zone for the global development initiative and a cooperation zone for the global security initiative, which will make a greater contribution to the peaceful development of East Asia.

The Belt and Road Initiative will provide more business opportunities for Chinese and Thai enterprises, bring more benefits to both people, and enhance bilateral cooperation between the countries across diverse domains. China and Thailand should actively promote cooperation in high-speed railway construction, digital economy, green economy and new energy industries. By implementing the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, the two countries will continuously fulfil the two peoples’ longing and aspiration for a better life.