On May 16, the International Symposium on Thai ethnic Chinese and Sino-Thai relations was held in Conference Room 7 of Science and Arts Center of Xiamen University. The symposium was jointly sponsored by Xiamen University and the Prince of Songkla University (Phuket Campus) in Thailand and hosted by School of International Relations/Research School for Southeast Asian Studies, Xiamen University and supported by Royal Thai Consulate General in Xiamen. Professor Li Jianfa, Vice President of Xiamen University, Mr. Mr. tajtai Tmangraksat, Thailand's Consul-General in Xiamen, Dr. Huang Dai Guang, Chairman of The Tio Chew Association of Thailand, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.
Prof. Li Jianfa articulated that the friendly relationship between Thailand and China had a long history and Thai ethnic Chinese played an important role in promoting the all-round development of bilateral relations; in response to the One Belt One Road initiative and the event that Xiamen and Phuket City became sister cities, this symposium would practice the “peaceful cooperation, openness and tolerance, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win" spirit of the Silk Road proposed by President Xi Jinping. Finally, he looked forward to seeing new contributions to the cooperation of humanities and education between Thai and China. Mr. Mr.tajtai Tmangraksat said that “the cultural, social and economic relations between the two countries are very close. With the further expansion and deepening of the all-round, multilevel and wide-ranging cooperation, the friendly relations between the two countries have entered a new stage. Against this background, the convening of this international symposium is of great significance.” Dr. Huang Daiguang also gave a speech. He believed that “Thai ethnic Chinese are playing a more and more important role in the political mutual trust, economic and trade development and cultural exchanges between China and Thailand. The history and culture of the Chinese in Thailand deserve attention and study.”
The subsequent round-table forum consists of three sections, which are “the Maritime Silk Road and the Sino Thai Cultural Exchange”, “Thai Chinese in Southern Thailand and the Chinese and Thai Folk Exchanges” and "Thai Chinese and the Relationship between Thailand and China ". Sixteen experts and scholars from Xiamen University, Yunnan University, Prince of Songkla University, Huaqiao University, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Maejo University of Thailand, Shantou Municipal Federation of Overseas Chinese and other institutions made presentations on the above-mentioned topics. The scholars discussed the issues on the relationship between Maritime Silk Road and the Chinese immigrants in Thailand; Thai ethnic Chinese culture, language and tradition; Thailand Chinese contribution to the local development and the cultural exchange between China and Thailand; the One Belt One Road initiative and Sino-Thailand relations. In addition, the participants were especially interested in the cultural ties between Fujian and Phuket.
