On 30 March 2026, Ms. Pensom Lertsithichai, Deputy Director-General of the Department of East Asian Affairs, met with Ms. Li Hong, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Province, the People’s Republic of China.

Both sides exchanged views on advancing relations, and focusing on cooperation in higher education and human resource development in the fields of science, technology, and innovation. The Shandong province expressed its interest in expanding scholarship opportunities for Thai students. Both sides possess strong potential to further expand cooperation in various areas to develop new engines of economic growth, including the digital economy, green energy, artificial intelligence, and advanced innovation. People-to-people ties, particularly in tourism, cultural exchanges, and sister-city partnerships, remain instrumental in delivering tangible and sustained benefits to the people of both sides.

Over the years, Thailand and Shandong have progressively deepened economic, trade, and investment ties. Thailand has expressed its support for high-quality investments from Shandong and welcomed the continued growth of Thai businesses in the province, facilitated by the support of the Shandong provincial government. Shandong is located in northern China and has the third-largest economy in the country. It is known for its strengths in industry, food security, transportation, and maritime connectivity, and is also the birthplace of Confucius.