China supports new Thai administration in carrying out governance effectively: Xi

SHANGHAI: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said China firmly supports Thailand in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and supports the new Thai administration in carrying out governance effectively.

Xi made the remarks in his meeting with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is here to attend the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai and on his official visit to China.

Noting that China places the development of China-Thailand relations in an important position in its neighborhood diplomacy, Xi said China has always been a reliable and trustworthy strategic cooperative partner for Thailand.

He said the two countries should accelerate the building of a more stable, prosperous and sustainable China-Thailand community with a shared future to bolster their respective modernization and contribute to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.

Xi also called on both sides to accelerate the construction of the China-Thailand railway and the railway connectivity among China, Laos and Thailand, and expand cooperation in emerging sectors including artificial intelligence, aerospace and clean energy.

Xi stressed that China and Thailand will continue to step up efforts to combat cross-border crimes, including online gambling and telecom fraud, in order to foster a secure environment for practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

China supports Thailand in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, he said.

Properly handling the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute serves the common and long-term interests of both countries and their peoples, he said, expressing the hope that the two sides will remain committed to dialogue and consultation and settle the dispute peacefully.

China stands ready to continue playing a constructive role in this process, he added.

Thailand is committed to deepening relations with China by maintaining close high-level exchanges and expanding practical cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, high technology and connectivity, Anutin said.

Thailand is willing to work with China to jointly combat online gambling and telecom fraud, strengthen cooperation on global AI governance, and enhance coordination and collaboration to promote regional and global peace, stability, development and prosperity, he said.

Thailand remains committed to the peaceful settlement of the Thailand-Cambodia conflict and appreciates China's fair and impartial role in facilitating that process, he added. ■

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Shanghai, east China, July 17, 2026. Anutin Charnvirakul is here to attend the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai and on his official visit to China.

Xi meets Kazakh president in Shanghai

In related development, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Shanghai.

Tokayev is in China to attend the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance.

Xi said that the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership has maintained strong momentum, demonstrating enormous potential for cooperation and broad prospects for future development.

He called on the two sides to strengthen the alignment of their development strategies and policies to continuously elevate practical cooperation.

Xi stressed the need to optimize the trade structure and foster new forms of business in cross-border e-commerce and trade in services. He also called for expanding cooperation in energy and mineral resources and accelerating the implementation of key projects.

Xi urged efforts to advance connectivity by increasing the number of direct flights and improving the facilitation of international road transport.

China stands ready to share technologies in areas such as the digital economy and artificial intelligence to support Kazakhstan's digital transformation, Xi added.

Both sides should also work together to make the China-Kazakhstan Year of Cultural Exchange a success, and expand cooperation in education, science and technology, medical care, public health, sports and media, Xi said.

China is ready to work with Kazakhstan to implement the four global initiatives, and further coordinate and cooperate in multilateral frameworks, including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the China-Central Asia mechanism, so as to jointly uphold international equity and justice, he said.