The 2026 "Go Guangdong, Go Global" Salon-Thailand was held in Foshan on September 18 alongside the Foshan-Thailand Economic and Trade Cooperation and Exchange Meeting. The event brought together government officials, industry experts and representatives from hundreds of Guangdong enterprises.
Co-hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Guangzhou, the event aimed to further align complementary industrial strengths and explore new avenues for bilateral cooperation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ma Wenfeng, director general of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, highlighted the longstanding friendship and strong economic ties between Guangdong and Thailand.
"Guangdong and Thailand are geographically close and share deep people-to-people bonds. Our practical cooperation in fields such as biomedicine, smart cities, connectivity and cross-border e-commerce has yielded fruitful results," Ma said. He noted that in 2025, Guangdong's trade with Thailand surpassed 250 billion yuan, accounting for one-quarter of total China-Thailand trade and ranking Guangdong first among Chinese provinces.
Ma also emphasized the pivotal role of enterprises, noting that the continued investments by leading companies such as Thailand's CP Group in Guangdong and Guangdong-based BYD in Thailand are vivid examples of this mutually beneficial cooperation. "As 2026 is the APEC China Year, we are focusing our efforts on the three priorities of openness, innovation and cooperation. We encourage entrepreneurs to seize these opportunities and work toward a win-win future," he added.
Kajtiti Wiwatwanont, consul-general of Thailand in Guangzhou, echoed these sentiments. He described Guangdong as a key hub for economic and investment exchanges. He also noted that Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) has become a strategic base for Guangdong companies expanding their industrial presence into ASEAN and Europe.
Kajtiti Wiwatwanont, consul-general of Thailand in Guangzhou, delivers a speech at the 2026 "Go Guangdong, Go Global" Salon-Thailand activity.
Looking ahead to the next decade, Wiwatwanont identified AI, digital infrastructure, and green energy as key pillars of future cooperation. "Guangdong's strengths in advanced manufacturing, smart home appliances and building materials align closely with Thailand's open business policies and strategic location in ASEAN. This synergy will undoubtedly further strengthen our strategic partnership," he said.
During the Thai Policy Briefing session, Siwadee Suksawate, director of the Guangzhou Office of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), outlined Thailand's comprehensive investment promotion packages. She highlighted that eligible projects can benefit from corporate income tax exemptions of up to 13 years, 100 percent foreign ownership and streamlined visa and work permit services.
The BOI also provides end-to-end support for investors across six key stages—from project evaluation and company registration to supply chain integration and commercial production. To address talent and partner acquisition challenges, the BOI offers customized business-matching services and the Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa, which provides a 10-year visa and permission to work in Thailand via a digital work permit for eligible highly skilled professionals in high-growth sectors such as automotive, electronics, AI and robotics. "With our four offices in China, including one in Guangzhou, we are fully prepared to accelerate the expansion of Chinese enterprises in Thailand," Suksawate stated.
Representatives from the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Authority of Thailand also shared insights into consumer market trends and China-Thailand cultural and tourism cooperation. The event concluded with a networking and matchmaking session, further facilitating direct business connections between enterprises from Guangdong and Thailand.
Reporter | Dong Han
Photo | Deng Yingheng
