Chinese state enterprises explore Thai business opportunities

BANGKOK, Nov 10 (TNA) – China’s Communist Party Secretary-General in Guangdong, leading a team of some 140 representatives of state enterprises to explore business opportunities in Thailand, said Monday that the group will join a seminar on the economy, trade, and tourism of both countries.

Speaking after paying a courtesy call on Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Secretary-General Wang Yang said his visit to Thailand was made to help boost bilateral Sino-Thai relations after the Thai premier visited Guangzhou City in Guangdong in June.

In September, the trade between Thailand and Guangdong totalled 1.27 billion yuan in value, an increase of 5.3 per cent.

Mr Wang said the development of trade between Thailand and Guangdong would greatly benefit Thailand.

The current trade value in the past year reached 10.3 billion yuan, which is 32 per cent of China’s total exports. Of this, 5.7 billion yuan is the value of trade which benefits Thailand.

He said the trade and economy of China and Thailand continued to improve.

The Thailand-Guangdong trade had grown to 21.1 per cent during 2001-2008 despite impacts from the global economic slowdown.

Both countries should extend their trade activities, Mr Wang said, particularly in the contract and tourism business, into other provinces of China.

Tourism promotion would help boost both the economies, cultural exchanges and mutual friendship between Thailand and Guangdong, he said. (TNA)