Three Powers Join Forces, Opening a New Chapter

Three Powers Join Forces, Opening a New Chapter

2024-12-20

The Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education partners with the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association and the Belt and Road International Cooperation Organization to open a milestone new chapter of cooperation

On March 27, 2024, His Serene Highness Prince Mom Rajawongse Chiralakorn Kitiyakara of the Kingdom of Thailand and his delegation visited the UN NGO Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education for a friendly and productive consultation. This consultation not only deepened the two sides' understanding of each other, but also laid a solid foundation for future cooperation. After several months of careful preparation and in-depth exchanges, on December 1, 2024, the UN NGO Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education, the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association, and the Belt and Road International Cooperation Organization jointly signed a landmark MOU strategic cooperation agreement in Bangkok, Thailand, marking the official entry of the trilateral cooperation into a brand-new stage.

The signing representatives for this cooperation included Zhao Yuanhong, Director-General for the Asia-Pacific Region of the UN NGO Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education; Han Wenhua, Executive Chairman of the Belt and Road International Cooperation Organization and the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association; as well as Ou Jing, Secretary-General of the UN NGO Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education; and Dang Hongying, Vice Chairman of the Belt and Road International Cooperation Organization, among other distinguished figures. Together they witnessed this solemn and historic moment, opening up infinite possibilities for the future cooperation of the three parties. 

Since its founding in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2005, the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association has shouldered the important mission of promoting the economic development of Thailand and China, strengthening cultural exchange, and contributing to the building of a harmonious Thai-Chinese society. The Association was jointly established by politicians, diplomats, and renowned scholars from the cultural and artistic circles of both Thailand and China, and is a national first-level association of Thailand. Its current chairman, Sawat Tassana, is not only a General of the Royal Thai Army, but also the Chairman of the Military and National Security Committee of the Senate of the Thai Parliament, a testament to his considerable influence. Under the joint efforts of Executive Chairman and Secretary-General Han Wenhua and Honorary Chairman Prince Mom Rajawongse Chiralakorn Kitiyakara, among other leaders, the Association has achieved remarkable results in promoting

friendly cooperation between Thailand and China.

It is worth mentioning that November 16, 2022, coincided with the grand opening of the APEC Leaders' Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, as well as the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road national strategy proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. On this day of special significance, Prince Chiralakorn, Honorary Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association, put forward the initiative to establish the "Belt and Road International Cooperation Organization." This organization is dedicated to advancing Thailand's numerous large-scale cooperation projects, promoting international peace and development, and contributing to the building of a Thai-Chinese community with a shared future for mankind. The proposal of this initiative not only received an active response from the governments of both Thailand and China, but also drew widespread attention from the international community.

The UN NGO Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education is an international non-profit social welfare organization certified and registered in the United States, holding Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council. The organization currently has more than 100 senior entrepreneurs, scientists, and renowned figures from social and cultural circles in the United States and the Pacific Rim region as its leadership. Within the framework of UN sustainable development, the organization has long been committed to promoting economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and the sound operation of public welfare projects among countries in the Asia-Pacific region, aiming to enhance the harmony, friendship, development, and prosperity of human society. In the fields of education and economic development, the organization upholds high standards of professional principles and a high level of professional competence, providing cross-cultural educational and collaborative opportunities for scholars, educators, inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, youth, and children.

In this cooperation, the parties, adhering to the principles of "joining hands, mutual benefit, honest cooperation, and common development," unveiled the liaison office of the Belt and Road International Cooperation Organization and the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association at the P.R.I.D.E. Asia-Pacific Headquarters in Shanghai, China; at the same time, they unveiled the liaison office of the Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education, which holds Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, at the headquarters of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association in Bangkok, Thailand. This move not only strengthened communication and collaboration between the two sides in their daily work, but also provided a more convenient and efficient platform for future cooperation projects.

provided a more convenient and efficient platform.

The scope of cooperation between the two sides broadly covers many fields, including science and technology, education, culture and the arts, various international expositions, and summits and forums. Cooperation in these fields not only helps to promote exchange and cooperation between Thailand and China in economic, cultural, and other areas, but will also bring more well-being and opportunities to the people of both countries. Especially against the backdrop of weak economic recovery in the aftermath of the global pandemic, this cooperation undoubtedly injects new vitality and momentum into the peace and development of both countries and the entire Asia-Pacific region.

Looking ahead, as cooperation continues to deepen and expand, we believe that the UN NGO Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education, the Belt and Road International Cooperation Organization, and the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association will play an even more active role in advancing the development of friendly relations between Thailand and China and in promoting peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, we also look forward to this cooperation model becoming a paradigm and benchmark for international cooperation, providing useful reference and inspiration for friendly cooperation among more countries.

Luan Xinqiu