On 8 - 11 June 2019, H.E. Mr. Li Xi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee paid an official visit to Thailand as guest of H.E. Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand to promote cooperation between Thailand - China and Thailand - Guangdong. On this occasion, H.E. Mr. Li Xi paid courtesy call on H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, and H.E. Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister, who also hosted a dinner for the delegation, attended by Thai and Guangdong business leaders.

      During the courtesy call on the Prime Minister, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation between Thailand and Guangdong in potential areas such as trade, investment, tourism, digital economy, e-Commerce, technology, innovation, and culture. Both sides also noted that the closer cooperation between Thailand and Guangdong would contribute to the strengthening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Thailand and China. In addition, both sides agreed to promote connectivity between the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) of Thailand at the policy and physical levels with an aim to connect China with the Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation (ACMECS) and ASEAN countries. Cooperation between GBA and EEC will significantly complement “Thailand 4.0” policy and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

      On 11 June 2019, H.E. Mr. Li Xi and H.E. Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak delivered opening remarks at the opening of the China (Guangdong) - Thailand Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference organised by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province. The event was attended by over 200 Guangdong and 400 Thai business representatives. In his remarks, H.E. Mr. Li Xi reaffirmed the commitment to enhance cooperation between Thailand - Guangdong and Thailand - GBA, particularly in the areas of economy, science, technology and innovation as well as to promote people-to-people exchanges. Apart from the official programme, more than 80 Guangdong business delegates visited the EEC to explore possible areas of cooperation between Guangdong and the EEC.  

      Thailand and Guangdong have long enjoyed close cooperation. Most of the overseas Thai Chinese have family origins from Guangdong. Guangdong is also a key distribution centre of Thai agricultural products to China, especially vegetables and fruits. In 2018, Thailand was Guangdong’s 9th largest trade partner with bilateral trade volume amounting to 23,980 million USD, an increase of 6.9 per cent from the previous year. In 2018, there were 1.8 million Guangdong tourists visiting Thailand, constituting 17 per cent of the total inbound Chinese tourists to the country.