The Chairman of the PRC, Li Qiang, called on Chinese and Thai enterprises on Saturday to utilize new opportunities and enhance bilateral interaction, expanding it from the realm of 'tables and tastes' to areas of 'digital intelligence and green development.'
He noted that both sides can strengthen industrial synergy and supply chain integration, as well as advance up the global value chain. These statements were made by Li during a symposium with Chinese and Thai entrepreneurs, as well as with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, held in Bangkok.
After listening to speeches from representatives of the business communities of both countries, Li stated that as China and Thailand work towards the beginning of a new golden fiftieth anniversary of bilateral relations, new opportunities for economic and trade cooperation are emerging.
Li emphasized that stability, ensured by high mutual trust and friendship, is a valuable resource in today's world full of instability and uncertainty, noting that relations and cooperation between China and Thailand demonstrate high resilience.
He added that close and regular communication between the leaders of the two countries, along with strong people-to-people ties and cultural proximity, create a predictable and stable environment for long-term planning and investment expansion for businesses in both countries.
Li also pointed out that the growing interconnectedness between the countries has an aggregating effect. He mentioned that continuous progress in the construction of the China-Thailand railway, the official opening of the Pinglu Canal in China, and the strengthening of 'soft connectivity' in areas such as standards, trade rules, and finance have facilitated smoother market interaction, allowing more enterprises to gain greater economic benefits.
Furthermore, thriving innovative cooperation brings a reinforcing effect. Economic and trade interaction between China and Thailand continues to expand beyond traditional areas into high-tech, new, and advanced fields where new business models and growth areas constantly emerge.
In this regard, Li believes that now is the right time for both sides to leverage their strengths and deepen cooperation in innovation. He called for expanding traditional trade in agricultural and food products, modernizing agriculture in both countries, and developing joint cooperation in new areas such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, and biomedicine to stimulate new growth drivers.
The Chairman of the PRC also advocated for a shift from 'production cooperation' to 'industrial synergy,' insisting that both sides must increase complementarity and integration in industrial and raw material chains, and promote the harmonization and mutual recognition of industry standards to enhance competitiveness through more effective coordination and advancement up the global value chain.
China encourages Chinese companies to expand localized operations in Thailand. Moreover, Li called for a transition from 'bilateral focus' to 'regional reach,' utilizing Thailand's geographical advantages, effectively applying policy dividends such as the entry into force of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Zone Upgrade Protocol 3.0, and expanding cooperation into third-party markets worldwide to achieve mutually beneficial and multilateral results.
Li stated that the governments of China and Thailand will make active efforts to ensure a favorable business environment for enterprises from both countries and support their long-term development and deeper participation in local markets. He also expressed hope that entrepreneurs from both countries will become ambassadors of friendship between peoples, making relations between China and Thailand even closer and stronger.
Speaking at the event, Anutin noted that China is Thailand's most important trading partner. He emphasized that Thailand hopes to take advantage of opportunities arising from technological progress and work with China to leverage their respective strengths and achieve higher quality cooperation.
According to Anutin, the two countries should move beyond simple trade partnership to become long-term partners striving for common development and mutual success, continuing to expand cooperation in areas such as electric vehicles, agriculture, investment, and transport infrastructure. He also announced that Thailand will implement additional measures and policies to create favorable conditions for the long-term operation and development of Chinese enterprises in the country, while combating transnational crime and protecting the rights and interests of investors.
Anutin also expressed confidence that the friendship encapsulated in the phrase 'Thailand and China are as close as family' will yield more tangible results and benefits for the peoples of both countries.
Business representatives from both countries also informed the leaders about the progress and results of their cooperation and offered specific recommendations. They expressed confidence in the friendship between China and Thailand and readiness to further strengthen cooperation and contribute to the development and prosperity of both countries through more tangible achievements.
