Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is paying an official visit to China. As 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, his visit is expected to enhance bilateral relations, including further expanding economic cooperation for mutual benefit and restoring the confidence of Chinese tourists to travel to Thailand.
Paetongtarn said the purpose of his visit is to promote cultural exchanges between Thailand and China, celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and strengthen economic cooperation. Wichai Kinchong Choi, Senior Vice President of Kasikornbank of Thailand, said the main focus of Paetongtarn’s visit will be to strengthen economic and investment ties between Thailand and China. China has been one of Thailand’s largest sources of foreign direct investment in recent years. According to data released by China’s General Administration of Customs in January, bilateral trade between the two countries will reach US$133.98 billion in 2024, up 6.1% year-on-year. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI), noted that Chinese investments in key sectors such as electronics, circuit boards, smart devices, data centers and electric vehicles (EVs) are in line with Thailand’s industrial development strategies and government priorities, highlighting the strong economic interdependence between the two countries.
