BANGKOK—On Nov. 28, an international symposium commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand was held in Bangkok, Thailand. Gao Xiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS); Supamas Isarabhakdi, minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of Thailand; and Wiparat De-ong, secretary general of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), attended the event and delivered speeches.

Gao noted that this year, as the “Golden 50th Year of China-Thailand Friendship,” stands as a landmark moment in bilateral ties. On July 1, 1975, the leaders of both countries—with exceptional political foresight—broke through the Cold War’s constraints and laid a durable foundation for friendship. This historic decision not only opened a new chapter in bilateral relations but also left an enduring mark on the broader history of Asian diplomacy.

Despite shifts in the global landscape, Gao continued, China-Thailand relations have sustained strong and steady momentum, continually enriched with new contemporary significance. From establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership to jointly advancing a more stable, prosperous, and sustainable China-Thailand community with a shared future, the two countries have moved beyond good-neighborliness toward a deeper relationship defined by shared aspirations—a model for countries seeking trust, mutual benefit, and long-term cooperation.

Gao emphasized that China and Thailand share similar missions on their paths toward modernization and improved people’s wellbeing. The CPC has led the Chinese people in successfully charting a Chinese path to modernization, creating a new form of human advancement and offering meaningful references for the independent development of Global South countries. The recent Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee reviewed and adopted the recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–30), mapping out China’s strategic priorities for the coming five years. China will continue to advance high-quality development and expand high-standard opening up.

Thailand, meanwhile, is at a pivotal stage of national revitalization, advancing its 20-year national development strategy (2018–37). Gao asserted that China firmly supports Thailand in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions. He expressed the hope that the two sides will deepen strategic alignment, expand cultural integration and people-to-people exchanges—particularly in sharing poverty reduction experience—and ensure that both peoples benefit more fully from bilateral cooperation.

Supamas Isarabhakdi remarked that the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations represents a milestone in Thailand-China friendship. Over the past five decades, the two countries have stood by each other with sincerity and mutual support, forging a close and reliable partnership. Recently, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s state visit to China—the first by a Thai monarch—further strengthened bilateral ties and symbolized the depth and continuity of the two countries’ friendship. This historic event not only demonstrates the profound friendship between Thailand and China but also stands as an important symbol of the enduring solidarity and shared future of the two countries. More than a mere diplomatic event, it represented both a significant landmark in renewing the longstanding friendship and the opening of a new chapter of Thailand-China cooperation. Supamas expressed her hope for expanding new fields of collaboration, cultivating closer academic and innovation networks, and working together to build a brighter future for both nations. She reaffirmed that the enduring sentiment that “Thailand and China are one family” will continue to be passed down through generations.

Wiparat De-ong underscored that the long-standing and multifaceted relationship between Thailand and China reflects a profound reservoir of trust, understanding, and goodwill. The symposium, she said, not only commemorates the 50-year milestone but also points toward new prospects for academic exchanges. Through joint research, scientific cooperation, and innovation, both sides can contribute meaningfully to building a Thailand-China community with a shared future.

The symposium was co-hosted by the National Institute of International Strategy at CASS and the NRCT, and organized by the CASS-NRCT Center of China Studies. Experts and scholars from both countries exchanged views on the achievements and experiences accumulated over five decades of diplomatic engagement. They offered insights and recommendations for strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership, advancing the construction of a more stable, prosperous, and sustainable China-Thailand community with a shared future, and jointly ushering in the next “Golden 50 Years.”