Thailand, China mull cooperation in infrastructure and energy
- By Guo Yiming
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 20, 2015
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A Round-table Dialogue between H.E. General Dr. Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Thailand, and CEOs from China, takes place on the sidelines of the 12th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on Sept. 18, 2015 in southern China’s Nanning City. (Photo by Guo Yiming/China.org.cn) |
"Thailand is seeking to join hands with China on more projects like infrastructure, clean energy and financing against the backdrop of closer relations between the two countries as the China-ASEAN bloc works as more of a community of shared destiny," said the Thai Deputy Prime Minister during a round-table dialogue with Chinese CEOs on Sept. 18, 2015 in southern China’s Nanning City.
The dialogue, which was held on the sidelines of the 12th China-ASEAN Expo Business and Investment Summit, gathered together top Thai government officials, including the country’s Deputy Prime Minister H.E. General Dr. Tanasak Patimapragorn, and Chinese business leaders who posed questions relating to their concerns on economic and trade policies in the Southeast Asian nation.
"Thailand is welcoming more Chinese companies to be involved in the country’s growth by investing in infrastructure like the China-Thailand high-speed railway program," said Tanasak in response to Wang Xusheng, President of the China National Machinery IMP&EXP. Corp.
Mr. Porametee Vimolsiri, Thailand’s Deputy Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Board, added that "infrastructure development in the country, such as efforts to upgrade the existing meter gauge railway, build both the public transportation system and high-speed railways, as well as develop economic zones, all beckon potential cooperation between the two neighbors."
Tanasak said he is a great fan of China as he had visited the country over 30 times and will continue to keep close ties there.
This is not the first time that he has cosied up to China. During a joint press conference in Kuala Lumpur last month, Tanasak, who was then the Foreign Minister, appeared to be enamored with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi as he told reporters in English, "If I were a woman, I would fall in love with His Excellency."
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the neighboring countries. Bilateral relations have maintained a strong momentum as the volume of two-way trade exceeded US$72.67 billion in 2014.
Bangkok said it will continue to create a business-friendly environment for Chinese companies looking to develop and invest in renewable energies, and promote the RMB settlement business in order to facilitate trade between both sides.
Since its initiation in 2009, the round-table dialogue between top officials from ASEAN countries and Chinese CEOs, a routine during the annual China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, has invited top government officials from six ASEAN countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Singapore, prompting trade agreements worth a total of US$21.97 billion.
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