Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Thailand: Dialogue is an important way to resolve disputes, and we believe that Thailand China relations will become closer in the future

Ocean disputes can be seen everywhere in the world, not only in the South China Sea, but also in Thailand, Cambodia, and other regions of the world. We are facing numerous ocean disputes, some of which have been resolved, but most are still unresolved. "Sorajak Kasemsuvan, a member of the Thai Council for Peace and Reconciliation in Asia and former Deputy Foreign Minister of Thailand, said in an interview with Global Times reporters on the sidelines of the 5th" Forum on Ocean Cooperation and Governance "held in Sanya, Hainan on the 26th that" dialogue is an important way to resolve any dispute. Resolving ocean disputes is more challenging than land disputes, and we must ensure that all relevant parties interact with each other. Communicate, maintain dialogue, and continue discussion

Gesen Suwa said, "We should also strive to transform this dialogue into cooperation or functional collaboration on shared resources, biodiversity, and environmental issues. This includes exploration of marine resources such as natural gas and biological resources. If we can engage in such cooperation and avoid military confrontation, we can demonstrate to external parties that we are managing our waters in a friendly manner and demand that they do not interfere." He further stated that although it is impossible to completely prevent the intervention of American forces in resolving the South China Sea issue, as long as the relevant parties effectively clarify that we are properly managing the situation, there is a legitimate reason to tell the United States not to intervene. If this can be achieved, it will be an important step forward.

ASEAN as a whole does not choose sides, but individual countries may lean towards one or the other based on some close relationship. For example, Philippine President Marcos has a close relationship with the United States, which may affect his position. ASEAN's own purpose is to maintain neutrality. "Gesen Suwa said that China has taken the lead in implementing the" blue economy "policy and has also carried out a series of positive measures in the South China Sea. China needs to show more to the outside world its efforts to improve the marine environment and solve various problems in the region. What ASEAN can do is to work with China to reach an early agreement on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, so that all parties can coexist peacefully and friendly within the framework of the COC, and jointly promote the prosperity and stability of the South China Sea.

Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. The former Deputy Foreign Minister of Thailand told Global Times reporters that there is a deep historical connection between Thailand and China, and this shared heritage has promoted close ties between the two countries. A large part of Thailand's population has Chinese ancestry, which can be traced back to many generations ago. Thailand reflects this connection in many aspects, including diet, language, and more. For example, some Thai dialects are influenced by Cantonese. He said, "In the past 50 years, the relationship between Thailand and China has been continuously strengthened, and I believe that the exchanges between the two countries will be even closer in the future