Thailand and China seek faster trade pact upgrade and rail development
Anutin Charnvirakul also proposed closer ties between Chinese EV producers and Thai suppliers, alongside cooperation in agriculture and food.
Thailand and China have committed to advancing their high-speed railway project and speeding up an upgrade of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Chinese Premier Li Qiang made the commitments at a Bangkok business roundtable, with the railway’s first phase targeted to begin operating in 2030.
Anutin said Thailand wanted the revised trade agreement, ACFTA 3.0, brought into force quickly. He called for the bilateral relationship to encompass joint investment and planning rather than trade alone.
Electric vehicles were among his priorities. Anutin said Chinese manufacturers with production operations in Thailand should develop stronger links with Thai component suppliers and local businesses, supporting domestic supply chains and production for export.
For agriculture and food, he proposed pairing Thai raw materials and products with China’s processing technology, logistics networks and access to markets. He also identified opportunities for cooperation in clean energy, digital technology and artificial intelligence.
To help large investments proceed faster, Anutin said the government would use the Board of Investment’s Thailand Fast Pass and pursue proposed Super Licence legislation. Plans for workforce development include engineering, digital technology and AI training, with Chinese businesses invited to help Thai universities and colleges design programmes.
Beyond the initial railway phase, Thailand intends to prepare for a second phase connecting Thailand, Laos and China, Anutin said. The roundtable drew more than 100 public- and private-sector representatives during Li’s official visit on November 13–15.
