Thai Official Calls for Ending Violence to Attract Chinese Investment
At a celebration marking the 77th anniversary of the People's Republic of China in Yala, Thai officials and the Chinese consul general discussed boosting bilateral ties. Pol. Col. Thavee Sodsong warned that the 'red zone' label on Thailand's deep south hampers Chinese investment and urged ending violence by 2070 to attract Beijing's support. The event highlighted the long-standing Thai-Chinese community in the region and the potential for economic growth if security improves.
At a ceremony held at TK Park Yala to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chinese Consul General Wang Zijian presided over the event, which was attended by Thai Chinese community leaders, politicians, military officers, and government officials. Wang Zijian said Thailand-China relations are entering a 'golden 50-year era' and that China is ready to expand cooperation in social, educational, and vocational fields in the southern border provinces. Representatives of the Yala Thai Chinese community highlighted China's rapid development as a source of major economic opportunities for Thailand and other countries.
Pol. Col. Thavee Sodsong, MP and leader of the Prachachat Party, spoke about the long history of Chinese settlement in Yala, noting that Chinese migrants arrived in Betong as early as 1900 and in Yala proper around 1917, describing the Thai-Chinese bond as an 'ocean of mutual friendship'. He then revealed that during discussions with the Chinese consul general, the main obstacle raised was the designation of Thailand's three southern provinces as a 'red zone', which leads the Chinese government to have safety concerns and limits Chinese investment and educational engagement.
Thavee added that the national strategy aims to eliminate violence in the deep south by 2070, achieving peace that would allow China to invest in the region's education and economy. He stressed that over two decades of economic impact from the conflict have hindered development, and that resolving security issues would unlock China's willingness to support poverty alleviation, leveraging the area's strong food production capacity. The event concluded with Thavee praising the vision of ... (text truncated).
