Premier Li Keqiang held talks with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in Bangkok, Thailand, on Nov 5.
Premier Li extended congratulations to Thailand for successfully hosting the series of leaders meetings on East Asia cooperation. He said that China and Thailand are close and friendly neighbors, and diplomatic ties between the two countries have maintained healthy and stable development. Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was recently awarded the Friendship Medal by President Xi Jinping, which embodied the profound friendship between the two peoples.
China is willing to enhance political mutual trust, deepen mutual beneficial cooperation, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges with Thailand, to boost bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, the Premier said.
Premier Li said China is willing to link up the Belt and Road Initiative to Thailand’s development strategy to achieve shared growth through discussion and collaboration. China supports Thailand in the construction of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), and regards it as an important platform for third-party market cooperation.
Chinese enterprises are encouraged to take part in the transportation infrastructure construction in Thailand in accordance with market and commercial rules. They are also expected to make full use of cross-border e-commerce platforms to increase exports of quality Thai agricultural products, such as rice, to China, according to the Premier.
China is willing to exchange experiences with Thailand in fields such as developing special economic zones and industrial parks, and poverty reduction. China will also further promote people-to-people exchanges, expand bilateral cooperation in education and tourism, among others, he said.
Premier Li stressed that China appreciates Thailand’s efforts in promoting China-ASEAN relations during its rotating presidency of ASEAN, especially in furthering negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). China is willing to work with Thailand and other ASEAN countries to promote regional economic integration, and to elevate the China-ASEAN relationship and East Asian cooperation to a new level.
Prayut expressed his gratitude for China’s support of Thailand’s rotating presidency of ASEAN. Prayut said that Thailand-China relations have been developing smoothly with close high-level exchanges. Thailand hopes to align its Eastern Economic Corridor development with China’s construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
More Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest and build factories in Thailand, and strengthen cooperation in e-commerce, third-party market, high-speed railway, 5G technology, and digital economy, among others. Thailand will continue to actively boost ASEAN-China ties.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents on sci-tech innovation, news and other areas. The two sides also released a joint press statement.
Before the talks, Prayut held a grand welcoming ceremony for Premier Li at the square in front of the Prime Minister's Office of Thailand.
During Premier Li’s visit in Thailand, he also met with representatives of overseas Chinese in Thailand from all walks of life.
State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Xiao Jie also attended the events.
