Weaving a Closer Trade Network between China and Thailand

The trade relationship between China and Thailand dates back many centuries ago. In 1975， the two nations first established the diplomatic relationship， and in the past 38 years， the bilateral trade volume has increased from 25 million US dollars to 70，000 million dollars， which is about 2，800 times more. In recent years， due to the impact of the global economic crisis and the Thai domestic political instabilities， the annual trade increase rate between the two countries increased at a slower pace of around 3%， but Dr. Phaichit Viboontanasarn is positive about the two-way trade prospect. First， the trade relationship between the two countries has been steadfast， and he is confident about the potential of the Chinese market. Dr. Phaichit Viboontanasarn also observes that the current Chinese government is the most ambitious about free trade agreement. As China is promoting itself worldwide， once a free trade deal is signed between the two countries， more goods will enter into each other’s market at a lower or zero imported rate duty.

Second， in 2015， the ASEAN Economic Community is expected to be set up， making it possible to touch the potential 600 million customers， and this is a huge opportunity for both China and Thailand.

More than ten years ago， when outbound tourism was just budding in China， Thailand was one of the most visits for Chinese tourists. In the past five years， the number of Chinese tourists to Thailand rose from 1 million to 5 million in 2013， and if visa waiver is made possible i n t h e f u t u r e ， this number is expected to rise to 100 million a year.

As a famous MICE destination and regional gateway to ASEAN nations， Thailand attaches great importance to the exhibition industry. Currently， products in the sectors of rubber， machinery， electrical machinery， and plastic account for a major part of bilateral trade. The ASEAN （Bangkok） China Import Export Commodities Fair is the biggest self-organized fair of China to Thailand. In 2013， the exhibition received 200 companies from 15 provinces in China， with an onsite turnover of 50 million US dollars and a turnover intention of about 200 million US dollars.

To Thai export companies， the Chinese market is still to be deeply explored， and tourists to Thailand will be the major source of the future consumers. Therefore， the government is launching a series of incentives to attract Chinese visitors， and also setting up special section of Thai products for Chinese customers to experience made in Thailand in person..