Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin stated that the Chinese government and private sector are interested in Thailand’s “Landbridge” project, and that both countries reaffirmed cooperation toward building the Thailand-China Community.

Mr. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Srettha on 29 January 2024 at Government House. He was on an official visit to Thailand from 26 to 29 January, as guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister Srettha said that, as China wanted more information about the Landbridge project, he told Mr. Wang Yi that Minister of Transport Suriya Juangroongruangkit would lead a road show to China to give details on the project to potential Chinese investors.

He said that China had also agreed to lend pandas to Thailand again, as part of cultural exchange between the two countries. On this occasion, Prime Minister Srettha and Mr. Wang Yi witnessed the signing of two documents on the export of Thai agricultural products to China.

On 28 January, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara and Mr. Wang Yi co-chaired the first Meeting of the Consultation Mechanism between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and China.

At the meeting, Thailand and China emphasized the importance of Thailand-China friendship and reaffirmed mutual support in all areas of cooperation toward building the Thailand-China Community with a Shared Future for Enhanced Stability, Prosperity, and Sustainability. 

According to a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting discussed ways to further promote cooperation on various fields, including trade (particularly agricultural products), investment, culture, tourism, people-to-people contact, connectivity facilitations (especially the Thailand-China highspeed railway project), and security issues. 

As 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China, the two sides took this opportunity to discuss plans to jointly celebrate this auspicious occasion. It was agreed that activities should be held in both Thailand and China, with active participation from all sectors, including the general public of both countries.

After the meeting, both Foreign Ministers co-signed the Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Ordinary Passports and Passports for Public Affairs between Thailand and China, which will enter into force on 1 March 2024.

Under this agreement, holders of valid Thai ordinary passports and valid Chinese passports for public affairs and ordinary passports will be exempted from visa requirements for entering, exiting, or transiting the other country’s territory for a period of stay not exceeding 30 days and a cumulative period of stays not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period, except for the purposes of residing or engaging in employment, study, media activities, or other activities that require prior approval from competent authorities of the other country.