Chinese President Xi Jinping has met with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Beijing, praising Thailand in the process for taking strong measures to combat online gambling and telephone fraud.
According to state media outlet CCTV, Xi met with Paetongtarn on Thursday morning where they discussed China-Thailand relations. Central to the discussions were the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations, hopes that they can consolidate strategic mutual trust and support, and that “the stability and certainty of China-Thailand relations should be used to cope with the uncertainties in the external environment”.
Xi also raised recent reports on Myanmar’s notorious scam centers, CCTV said, and praised Thailand side for taking strong measures to combat online gambling and telephone fraud within the scam hubs.
“China and Thailand should continue to strengthen law enforcement, security and judicial cooperation to safeguard the safety of people’s lives and property, and to maintain the order of interaction and cooperation between the countries in the region,” he is reported as saying.
For her part, Paetongtarn said that bilateral relations have been through thick and thin but have always been characterized by mutual support and common development. Regarding a recent high-profile incident in which Chinese actor Wang Xing was lured to a scam center on the Myanmar border after traveling through Thailand, she said, “Thailand is willing to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with China and other neighboring countries and take resolute and effective measures to combat cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telephone fraud.”
Paetongtarn also said that Thailand is ready to protect the safety of all tourists, including those from mainland China, and asked China to investigate the online platforms that disseminate false information about Thailand’s tourism, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts in combating online gambling and telephone fraud.
As reported by IAG, Thailand this week suspended the supply of electricity, internet connectivity and fuel to five areas along the Myanmar border in response to rising safety concerns.
