“The Consulate General aims to deepen cooperation between Thailand and Guangdong in all areas, especially following up on the discussion that Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong had in Bangkok earlier in June to strengthen cooperation in such areas as renewable and clean energy, and electric vehicle (EV),” said the Consul General of the Kingdom of Thailand in Guangzhou, Jiraporn Sudanich, in a recent interview with GDToday.
2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Guangdong has continued to be China’s largest provincial trading partner of Thailand. In 2022, trade volume between Guangdong and Thailand reached 220.2 billion RMB, which saw a 12.93 percent year-on-year increase and accounted for about one fourth of the total trade volume between China and Thailand.
Sudanich highlighted that Thailand’s economy in 2023 sees potential in tourism sector, private consumption and private and public investments while facing risk factors including global economic slowdown and volatility in the global financial market, household and corporate debts and impact of climate change on agriculture sector.
She indicated that Thailand, in January 2023, adopted a new investment promotion strategy from 2023 to 2027 to attract investment in high tech, green and smart industries. “Thailand continues to welcome more foreign investment and business partners into the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). We are focusing on strategic sectors with high potential for growth, including digital technology, health and well-being, smart logistics and decarbonization,” she said.
Sudanich stressed that both sides maintains frequent exchanges both at national and provincial levels. In the APEC Leaders’ Meeting held in Bangkok November 2022, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation with a sentiment encapsulated by President Xi Jinping's phrase "情同手足," symbolizing the bond of brotherhood-like relations.
At the provincial level, Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong led a delegation to visit Thailand from June 27 to 30 2023, during which the China (Guangdong)-Thailand Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference was held to strengthen ties between the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and Thailand’s EEC.
When asked about future plan, Sudanich said plans for the second Thailand-Guangdong High-Level Cooperation Conference (HLCC) and deeper collaborations are on the horizon. The Consul General envisions a future where the rich and diverse ties between Thailand and Guangdong continue to flourish, contributing to mutual prosperity and understanding.
Apart from the areas of Guangdong’s expertise, she said Thailand is also keen to explore new areas of cooperation with Guangdong counterparts in medical and healthcare as numerous research centers are in Guangdong. In the realm of culture and creativity exchanges, Thailand is also actively exploring opportunities ins films and dramas.
Reporter: Eastbrook
Editor: Wing, Nan, Jasmine,James
