Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has begun her official visit to the People’s Republic of China, reaffirming the 50-year diplomatic and economic relationship between the two countries.
For 12 years, China has been Thailand’s primary trading partner, with investments surpassing $100 billion.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn engaged with President Xi Jinping to highlight the long-standing diplomatic and economic ties between Thailand and China.
President Xi reiterated that Thailand is a key focus in China’s regional engagement strategy. He supported Thailand’s new administration in taking a more active role on global and regional platforms. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Thai-Chinese relations, both parties stressed the importance of enhancing collaborative efforts in economic development, trade, and regional security.
The Prime Minister discussed with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC), highlighting the enduring and progressive partnership between Thailand and China.
China emphasizes premium goods and services and views Thailand as a key investment location, especially in technology-centric sectors. The Chinese government is committed to supporting high-tech companies in increasing their operations in Thailand and improving collaboration in cross-border crime prevention and cybersecurity.
The Prime Minister thanked China’s National People’s Congress for enabling the arrival of the Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic’sRelic in Thailand and for arranging the return of a goodwill giant panda.
Thailand reiterated its dedication to safeguarding Chinese tourists while enhancing exchanges between people, especially youth, in education, cultural activities, and the advancement of soft power.
In the afternoon, the Prime Minister participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Tiananmen Square’s Monument to the People’s Heroes, joined the Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, top military officials, and Zhang Jiandong, Vice Chairman of the NPC in Beijing.
The Prime Minister discussed with senior executives from prominent Chinese companies, such as Hisense Group and Xiaomi Corporation, to promote local sourcing and encourage long-term investments in Thailand.
Jia Shaoqian, Chairman of Hisense Group, explored potential partnerships within the electronics and appliance industries. The Prime Minister encouraged Hisense to utilize components produced in Thailand to lower logistics costs and promote sustainable investment growth. The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) committed to facilitating business matchmaking initiatives to link local suppliers with Chinese manufacturers.
Alain Lam, Vice President and CFO of Xiaomi Corporation, reiterated the company’s dedication to Thailand, which is backed by BOI investment incentives. The Thai government has urged Xiaomi to view Thailand as a vital regional hub for its supply chain and innovative technology initiatives, thereby enhancing its footprint in Thailand and the ASEAN markets.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn met with the Thai Chamber of Commerce in China (TCCC) to explore strategies for enhancing bilateral trade, especially in the agriculture and investment sectors. She suggested strengthening collaboration in trade facilitation, investment regulations, and product safety standards.
The TCCC leadership highlighted the need to improve the global image of Thai products and services while expanding soft power strategies to draw in Chinese consumers and investors. Additionally, the chamber urged for better investment incentives and a more efficient regulatory framework to strengthen Thai-Chinese economic relations.
This visit underscores Thailand’s dedication to enhancing economic collaboration, fortifying trade relationships, and broadening investment prospects with China, thereby strengthening a fifty-year-old strategic alliance.
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