Message from Consul-General Kajtiti Wiwatwanont,
Consul-General of Thailand in Guangzhou

************************

A warm greeting to friends of Thailand and Thai communities in Guangdong Province and Hainan Province,

It is a gracious honour for me to have been appointed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua as Consul-General of Thailand in Guangzhou, overseeing Guangdong Province and Hainan Province of the People’s Republic China.

My tenure as Consul-General in this remarkable City of Guangzhou comes at a meaningful moment, as the Kingdom of Thailand and the People’s Republic of China celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations in 2025. The highlight for the Golden Jubilee has been the State Visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand to Beijing in November 2025. This first official visit of the Thai Monarch was certainly a historic moment for our two countries. The Thai people are delighted to see our Chinese friends rejoicing along with us, underlining our friendly relations.

As we embark on the 51^st year of our two countries’ diplomatic ties in 2026, I would like to look to the past, while gazing into the future, reflecting on the foundations that have shaped relations of Thailand and China, particularly in Guangdong and Hainan. Our historical journey is inseparable from the story of the Red Head Ships, which carried early overseas Chinese to Thailand. They arrived with little but now are contributing notably to modern Thailand, becoming an integral part of our national fabric. Their beliefs, heritage, and culture blended harmoniously with those of the Thai people, forming shared traditions that remain especially vivid here in Guangdong and Hainan. These deep cultural roots continue to anchor the trust and closeness between our two nations.

To honour this enduring bond, the Consulate captured these shared memories in our Golden Jubilee flagship project, the “Thailand–China, Connected as Family” Exhibition, first launched at Wang Lee Residence in Shantou and later showcased at the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum in Guangzhou. This historical reflection provides the backdrop for our ongoing efforts—cultural, educational, and economic—that carry the spirit of our past into the future and sets the stage for the initiatives and partnerships I have been privileged to advance during my tenure.

Over the past years, our Consulate has worked to deepen the cultural and educational ties that bind our peoples. Through initiatives such as “Thai Street Vibes” in Guangzhou and Thai Food Festivals with leading hotels, we have brought the colours, flavours, and creative energy of Thailand directly to our Chinese friends.
At the same time, we have strengthened the foundations of understanding by supporting Thai studies programmes and scholarships across Guangdong and Hainan. Tourism is another mutual asset the Consulate promotes to enhance the understanding between our peoples. We are delighted to see the upward trend of Thai and Chinese tourists exchanging more visits following the visa exemption scheme for under 30-day trip.

These people‑to‑people connections have complemented our efforts to advance economic cooperation, especially as Guangdong continues to serve as a driving force in Thailand – China trade and investment. By engaging with government and industry partners, the Consulate has opened new pathways for collaboration in key sectors and continued to encourage greater participation from Guangdong enterprises. Our economic cooperation project has linked major players in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) with Thailand’s thriving Eastern Economic Corridor or the EEC. We will continue our efforts so to facilitate Thai along with Guangdong and Hainan business sectors to mutually prosper, tapping from China’s national agendas of the 15^th Five-Year development plan and the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Looking ahead, the Consulate has laid important groundwork for the next era of partnership, from fostering cooperation in advanced technology supply-chain and medical innovation to expanding opportunities in education. These endeavours reflect our belief that the future of Thailand–China relations will be shaped not only by policy, but by the shared aspirations of our communities, entrepreneurs, and young talents. It is my sincere hope that these initiatives will continue to grow, flourish, and inspire the next chapter of friendship and progress between our two peoples.

As Thailand and China enter the sixth decade of our diplomatic relations in 2026, the Royal Thai Consulate‑General in Guangzhou remains profoundly grateful for the steadfast collaboration and support extended to us. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to our counterparts, colleagues, and the many friends of Thailand in Guangdong and Hainan, whose dedication and goodwill have strengthened our warm and enduring ties over the past fifty years.

Our Consulate stands determined to continue to nurture the relations from the era of the sailing red head ships, where we developed our shared cultural heritages, to build on the era of the high-speed trains, where we are committed to building our shared future with advanced science and technology, AI and digital innovation, among others. With our shared foundations and continued efforts, I am confident that the next 50 years of Thailand and China Chapter will be bright and defined by deep friendship, trust, and mutual prosperity.

Mr. Kajtiti Wiwatwanont,
Consul-General of Thailand in Guangzhou