Thailand and China are committed to elevating Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which covers infrastructure connectivity, suppression of transnational crime, and promotion of future technologies, security, tourism, modern trade and investment, especially in artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul had a plenary meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang on 20 July 2026, as part of his official visit to China from 16 to 20 July. The meeting focused on five key areas of cooperation as follows:

• Trade and Investment: Both sides agreed to expedite conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement to benefit Chinese investors using Thailand as a production base. Thailand called on China to increase imports of high-quality Thai fruits and processed foods, while welcoming quality Chinese investment that helps elevate Thai businesses into global supply chains;

• Infrastructure Connectivity: Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to completing Phase 1 of the Thai–Chinese high-speed rail project by 2030, while preparing for Phase 2. They also agreed to proceed with the construction of the second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge and the Chiang Khong–Nateuy–Mohan railway, linking Southern China with Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore;

• Security Cooperation: Both sides came to terms to establish a 2+2 mechanism between the Foreign Ministers and Defense Ministers of Thailand and China as a strategic dialogue platform, with Thailand as host the inaugural meeting. They also agreed to expand cooperation in defense industry development and personnel training;

• Science, Technology, and Innovation: Thailand and China commit to intensifying collaboration in the digital economy and future industries, i.e., artificial intelligence, health technologies, space, nuclear energy, and quantum science;

• Combating Transnational Crime: Cooperation will be strengthened in the exchange of intelligence, investigative data, and financial transactions to crack down online scam networks and financial frauds.

After the meeting, the two prime ministers witnessed the signing of 15 MOUs and Agreements as follows:

1. Agreement on Cooperation in Higher Education between Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of the Kingdom of Thailand and Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China;

2. Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Economic Cooperation in Industrial and Supply Chains between Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and Ministry of Commerce of the Kingdom of Thailand;

3. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence Education between Ministry of Education of the Kingdom of Thailand and Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China;

4. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Intellectual Property Enforcement between Ministry of Commerce of the Kingdom of Thailand and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) of the People’s Republic of China;

5. Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Exchanges and Cooperation in Nuclear Fusion between Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of the Kingdom of Thailand and Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China;

6. Memorandum of Understanding on Public Health Cooperation between Ministry of Public Health of the Kingdom of Thailand and the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China;

7. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Application of BeiDou Navigation Satellites between Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of the Kingdom of Thailand and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China;

8. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Financial Transaction Data Exchange to Prevent and Combat Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Transnational Crime between the Anti-Money Laundering Office of Thailand and Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China;

9. Protocol on Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Aquatic Animals for Consumption Exported from Thailand to China between Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Kingdom of Thailand and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China;

10. Memorandum of Understanding between Public Relations Department of the Kingdom of Thailand and People’s Daily of the People’s Republic of China;

11. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Rural Water Management, Hydropower, and Irrigation between Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Kingdom of Thailand;
12. Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Media Cooperation between Public Relations Department of the Kingdom of Thailand and Xinhua News Agency of the People’s Republic of China;

13. Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing a Joint Thailand–China Laboratory for Deep Space Exploration between Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of the Kingdom of Thailand and the China National Space Administration;

14. Memorandum of Understanding between Public Relations Department of the Kingdom of Thailand and the China Media Group of the People’s Republic of China;

15. Agreement on Joint Research Projects between Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.