Bangkok（Thailand）

Bangkok（Thailand）

[Overview] Bangkok is the capital city and the political, economic, cultural, educational and transportation center of Thailand. Located in the lower reaches of the Chao Phraya River, the city is 40 kilometers from the Gulf of Siam, covers an area of 1,569 square kilometers, and has a population of 8 million.

[Politics] Bangkok is Thailand's only provincial-level municipality directly under the central government. It is governed by the metropolitan council and the metropolitan administration. The incumbent Governor Aswin Kwanmuang took office in October 2016 for a term of four years.

[Economy] Bangkok is the economic center of Thailand and also a major regional economic hub of Southeast Asia, second only to Singapore. The services sector is its pillar industry, contributing approximately half of the total value of the services sector of Thailand.

[Culture and Education] Bangkok is the center of higher education in Thailand, being home to such prestigious universities as Chulalongkorn University, Thammasat University, Bangkok University and Naresuan University. The city has more than 400 Buddhist temples, the most famous of which are the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the Temple of the Dawn, as well as 55 mosques. Bangkok also hosts United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and a number of other UN agencies.

[Relations with Beijing] Beijing and Bangkok officially became sister cities on May 26, 1993. The two cities have had close interactions and fruitful cooperation in such areas as legislation, urban construction and cultural development in recent years.

Legislation: In 2001, Beijing Municipal People's Congress and Bangkok Metropolitan Council signed a memorandum to become sister councils and established a mechanism of regular communication and mutual visits so as to strengthen exchanges in legislation and create a sound legal environment for cooperation between the two sides in various other fields.

City Construction: In 2019, the third tallest building in Thailand, which is a landmark of Bangkok by the Chao Phraya River, was delivered. It is a highlight of Beijing's efforts to support the Belt and Road Initiative as Beijing Construction Engineering Group is the co-investor and EPC contractor of the project.

Culture: In 2008, part of the torch relay for the Beijing Olympic Games was held in Bangkok successfully as tens of thousands of local people rooted for the Olympic flame. The event spread the Olympic spirit and reinforced the friendship between the two cities. In 2013, a delegation of young table tennis players from Bangkok visited Beijing and had exchange events with students from Beijing No. 66 Middle School. In 2017, the two cities co-hosted the “Flower of Friendship: Photo Exhibition of Beijing ASEAN Cultural Tour” in Bangkok. 

曼谷市（泰国）

【概况】曼谷市是泰国首都，全国政治、经济、文化、教育、交通中心。位于湄南河下游，距暹罗湾40公里，面积1569平方公里，人口800万。

【政治】曼谷市是泰国唯一的府级直辖市。曼谷市级管理机构包括市议会和市政府。现任市长阿萨汶于2016年10月就职，任期4年。

【经济】曼谷市是泰国经济中心，也是东南亚仅次于新加坡的区域经济中心。服务业是曼谷的支柱产业，约占全国服务业总量的一半。

【文化教育】曼谷市是泰国高等教育中心，知名高校有国立朱拉隆功大学、国立法政大学、曼谷大学和国立那烈宣大学等。市内寺庙林立，共有400余座佛教寺，55座清真寺，佛教寺庙以大王宫、玉佛寺、卧佛寺、郑王庙最为著名。曼谷还是联合国亚太经社理事会总部和联合国一些特设机构的所在地。

【两市交往】1993年5月26日，北京市与曼谷市正式建立友好城市关系。近年来，两市交往密切，立法、城建、人文等领域合作成果丰硕。

立法领域：2001年，北京市人大与曼谷市议会签署友好议会备忘录，建立定期交流互访机制，加强两市立法部门交往，为各领域合作创造良好的法制环境。

城建领域：2019年，北京建工集团联合投资并负责工程总承包施工的泰国第三高建筑－曼谷湄南河畔地标项目交付使用，成为北京市企业助力“一带一路”建设的亮点工程。

人文领域：2008年，北京奥运会火炬在曼谷的传递活动取得圆满成功，数万名当地民众为圣火助威，传播奥运精神，厚植友好情谊。此外，2013年，曼谷市青少年乒乓球代表团访京，与我市第66中学开展乒乓球交流活动。2017年，两市在曼谷共同举办“友谊花开－北京东盟文化之旅实录图片展”。

（Source: Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal Government）