Kitsayapong Siri, Thailand's permanent secretary for culture, poses for a photo after an interview in Bangkok, Sept 20, 2019. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"Cultural exchanges play an important role in promoting the understanding of different ways of thinking and advancing interpersonal communication," said Kitsayapong Siri, Thailand's permanent secretary for culture. 

In a recent interview with China Daily website, Kitsayapong praised the work of the China Cultural Center in Bangkok, the first Chinese cultural center set up in Southeast Asia in 2012.

"Since 2012, the two countries have held a number of cultural and arts activities, which have not only presented the unique charm of Chinese culture, but also enhanced exchanges and cooperation between the two cultures," said Kitsayapong. "This is also one of the main reasons why more and more young people in Thailand have grown interested in Chinese culture nowadays."

Kitsayapong also pointed out that China and Thailand share a lot of cultural similarities, which helps maintain sustainable exchanges and collaboration between people in the two countries.