Chinese President Xi Jinping has told Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul that China is ready to facilitate talks between Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their border conflict.
Xi Jinping also told Anutin that China is aware of Thailand’s concern over the recent shipment of Chinese-made tanks to Cambodia, but insisted that the Cambodian government placed an order for them long before the eruption of armed conflict between Thai and Cambodian forces in the middle of last year.
Anutin, who arrived in Shanghai on Thursday for his first official visit to China, told Thai media that, during his bilateral talks with Xi on Friday, the Chinese president reaffirmed China’s support and cooperation with Thailand in all aspects, from security and the economy to technological transfer and personnel training.
He said he told President Xi of Thailand’s firm stance in not seeking conflict with its neighbours, but finds it necessary to protect the country’s sovereignty and the safety of the Thai people.
President Xi also told Anutin that China understands Thailand’s sensitivity over the tanks and has ordered the delay of a new shipment of tanks to Cambodia, as he offered an assurance that the Chinese government had set a condition that the tanks and other Chinese-made weaponry must not be used to harm Thailand.
Regarding the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation meeting, which is to be hosted by Thailand, Anutin said that President Xi has proposed that the meeting should be held in China instead, if Cambodia is reluctant to attend the meeting in Thailand.
During the talks, Prime Minister Anutin thanked President Xi for China’s warm welcome on the state visit to China of Their Majesties the King and Queen last November and conveyed an invitation from His Majesty to the president and his wife to undertake a state visit to Thailand.
The president accepted the invitation and said he will visit at a time which is convenient to both sides, said Anutin.
