Coronavirus epidemic reflects brotherly ties between China, Thailand

The Chinese government and Chinese people are currently making an all-out effort to combat the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic. Under the deployment and command of general secretary Xi Jinping of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the Chinese people have rapidly launched a battle against the virus to which everyone is contributing efforts.
Thailand, a neighboring country that shares a long history of friendship with China, has illustrated the traditional ties of “Jeen Thai Phee Nong Gan” (China and Thailand are brothers), as well as the profound connotation of a community with a shared future for mankind through its close cooperation with China and the mutual assistance it has offered.
Thailand is the first country outside China to report the infection of the novel coronavirus, and also one of the countries with the most confirmed cases. Thailand is a tourism country and an export-oriented economy. Its government and people have always kept close communication and coordination with the Chinese side to support the latter to battle against the epidemic, despite the overreactions taken by certain western countries to create panic.
On Jan. 31, HM the King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand sent a telegram of sympathy to Chinese President Xi Jinping on the epidemic caused by coronavirus. Highly appraising the forceful measures taken by China to combat the epidemic, the king affirmed his solidarity with the Chinese people and wished them every success in overcoming the challenge under the leadership of President Xi.
The Privy Councilor of Thailand Palakorn Suwanarat called me late at night on Jan. 30 on behalf of the King and conveyed the latter’s message to the Chinese side that the Thailand-China ties are not plain friendship, but kindred. This phone call touched me very much. He said that the Thai people will firmly stand together with the Chinese people and are willing to make their contribution to the battle against the epidemic.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha of Thailand and president Chuan Leekpai of the National Assembly of Thailand also sent telegrams of sympathy to the Chinese leader. Prime Minister Prayut expressed his support for China and the world to battle against the novel coronavirus in a video speech. The Privy Councilor of Thailand, members of Cabinet of Thailand, and members of National Assembly of Thailand also expressed their firm confidence and sincere wishes to China in various ways.
Currently, the entry of Chinese nationals to foreign countries is a matter that attracts high attention. Thailand, as a tourism country, has not taken any measures to restrict the entry of Chinese citizens since the onset of the epidemic. On the contrary, it exempted the penalties of Chinese citizens from Hubei and other places stranded in Thailand because of cancelled flights, and extended their visas and offered assistance.
Thanks to the experienced medical staff that Thailand designated to offer free treatment for Chinese nationals infected with the novel coronavirus in the country, many of the Chinese tourists have been cured and come home, and no death has ever occurred.
The Thai society also took action to offer assistance. The epidemic prevention materials donated in the name of Thailand’s King and Queen have recently arrived in Wuhan. The Thai government, overseas Chinese from Thailand, and the country’s business world all made huge donation in both cash and materials.
On the streets of Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, there are always Thai people sending wishes to China by saying “susu China” and “susu Wuhan” (“susu” means “cheer up” in Thai). There are also large numbers of articles, videos and comments on Thai newspapers, television programs and internet expressing support for China. I personally receive phone calls and video clips of encouragement from my Thai friend on a daily basis.
A Chinese proverb says, “When brothers are of the same mind, they have the power to cut through metal.” The successful cooperation between China and Thailand on the battle against the novel coronavirus pneumonia is creating infinite power of solidarity.
The active attitude and strong supports of Thailand for China’s efforts to combat the novel coronavirus demonstrate the high political mutual trust between the leaderships of the two countries. Such mutual trust is guiding and stabilizing the rational reaction of the Thai society to the novel coronavirus pneumonia under the current circumstances.
The China-Thailand friendship, which has weathered the test of history of over 1,000 years, is constantly being injected with positive energy and creating new dynamics.
In the past days, the two countries offered mutual assistance and jointly coped with major challenges such as the Asian financial crisis, the Indian Ocean Tsunami, the epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the major earthquake in Wenchuan, China.
Now, the two countries have joined hands again to combat the novel coronavirus pneumonia. Their calmness, rationality, decisiveness and resolution have led to effective results, setting an example for international cooperation on the handling of major public health emergency and demonstrating the quality of the China-Thailand comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The two countries are establishing a community with a shared future that shares weal and woe.
Rainbows are seen after rains. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Thailand. We have every reason to believe that the cooperation and efforts of the two “brothers” will not only assist China to achieve an early win over the epidemic, but also further deepen the China-Thailand ties, explaining the practical connotation and global significance of the community with a shared future for Asia and mankind in a more vivid manner.