Ambassador wants connection with China to go beyond 'hardware'

Thailand will work beyond the "hardware" level to improve its "spiritual" and cultural connection with China under the ongoing Belt and Road Initiative, said Theerakun Niyom, Thailand's ambassador to China.

"Mentioning the initiative, people would first think about the Chinese-Thai connection in terms of hardware, such as railways. However, we want to go beyond that and connect people of the two countries through cultural communication, during which process education will play a key role," Theerakun told China Daily.

"To enhance mutual understanding, we will continue supporting China to establish a Confucius Institute in Thailand, and meanwhile work with the Chinese government to set up more short-term exchange programs and provide more scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students from the other country," Theerakun said.