1. At the invitation of His Excellency Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha of the Kingdom of Thailand, His Excellency Mr. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China attended the 35^th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits and paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand on 2-5 November 2019. 

2. During the visit, Premier Li Keqiang met with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House.  He also met with His Excellency Chuan Leekpai, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives at the Parliament.      

3. Both sides shared the view that this official visit marked another significant milestone in reaffirming the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership  between the Kingdom of Thailand and the People’s Republic of China and in setting the direction for the future course of relations amidst the evolving regional and international landscapes.

Overview of Bilateral Relations

4. The two Leaders agreed that the year 2019 was important for both the Kingdom of Thailand and the People’s Republic of China. Prime Minister Prayut congratulated on the 70^th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and the remarkable achievements made by the Communist Party of China in national development over the past seventy years.  The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand also conveyed his best wishes to the Chinese people for their endeavors towards realizing the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese Dream of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Premier Li Keqiang congratulated the Kingdom of Thailand and the Thai people on the Coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua. He also extended his congratulations to Prime Minister Prayut for being elected to the current position for a second term and expressed support to the Royal Thai Government in its efforts to maintain political stability, promote economic growth, and improve the livelihood of the people. Premier Li expressed his best wishes for Thailand’s smooth realization of the goals set in the National Strategy (2019-2038). Moreover, both sides shared the view that the presentation of the Friendship Medal to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn by the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the 70^th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China was a testament to the long-standing ties of friendship between the two countries. 

5. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the momentum and dynamism in the bilateral relations and agreed to make full use of bilateral cooperation mechanisms and platforms, such as the Joint Committee on Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation between Thailand and China, the Strategic Dialogue, the Sino - Thai Defense and Security Consultation, the Joint Committee on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, the Joint Committee on Railway Cooperation between Thailand - China and Thailand - China Ministerial Dialogue on Digital Economic Cooperation, to further deepen and expand cooperation.  Both sides also attached importance to expediting the implementation of the Joint Action Plan on Thailand-China Strategic Cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the People’s Republic of China (2017-2021) to achieve tangible results.  

6. Both sides also recognized the importance of promoting connectivity between the Kingdom of Thailand and the People’s Republic of China, amidst the volatility in the world economy, through economic cooperation frameworks and infrastructure linkages with a view to enhancing growth and prosperity of the two countries, the sub-region and the region as a whole. 

Political and Security 

7. Both sides agreed to respect each other’s national paths to development, to share experiences and best practices in state governance, and to render understanding and support for each other on issues concerning core interests and major concerns. The Thai side reiterated its firm adherence to the One - China  Policy and support to the peaceful development of Cross-Straits relations and the peaceful reunification of China. The Thai side also reiterated its support for China’s “One Country, Two System” principle. 

8. Both sides welcomed the frequent exchanges of visits between government agencies, legislative bodies, political parties, armed forces and local authorities and expressed support for the continuation of these close engagements with a view to contributing to the promotion of overall relations between the two countries. 

9. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the close defense cooperation between their respective Ministries of Defence and Armed Forces through joint military exercises, personnel training and defense industry cooperation as well as multi-lateral security coordination. 

10. Both sides agreed to step up cooperation in eradicating drug trafficking, combating transnational crimes, and countering terrorism and terrorism financing and as well as on anti-money laundering and to continue promoting law enforcement cooperation.

Economic, Trade, Investment and Tourism 

11. Both sides expressed satisfaction on the on-going cooperation under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation within the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative (Belt and Road Initiative) and  agreed to make the China-Thailand Railway Cooperation Project  a successful model of high-quality cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, expedite the implementation of  the Memorandum of Cooperation on Construction of the Connection Project of Nongkai-Vientiane Railway, accelerate implementation of the China-Laos-Thailand Railway project and explore collaboration in the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in mutual areas of interests so as to enhance regional connectivity and development.

12. The two sides reaffirmed their desire to work closely in coordinating and facilitating import and export activities between the two countries for mutually beneficial trade. Both sides agreed to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand and China for Cooperation on Agricultural Products Trade and seize the opportunity brought by the growth of new forms of business such as e-commerce to improve the sustainability of trade. The Chinese side looked forward to welcoming the Thai side as Guest Country of Honor at the 2^nd China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in Shanghai in November 2019.

13. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation under the framework of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) of Thailand by taking into account the possibility of establishing a related cooperation mechanism to further promote linkages between Thailand’s EEC and the GBA with a view to steering forward the connectivity between the GBA and the EEC and the broader region into concrete results.

14. Both sides will continue to expand industrial cooperation in production capacity and to create greater synergies in industrial plans and policies (based on platforms like the China-Thailand Rayong Industrial Park), particularly by leveraging on Thailand’s strategic location in linking supply chain and logistics of the Mekong countries, to build advantageous industrial clusters development, such as next generation automobile, high-tech medical devices, new energy and energy saving vehicles and rubber. The Thai side welcomed increased investment from Chinese companies in the EEC. Both sides agreed to advance the Three Parties Cooperation in the EEC and viewed that this concept would serve as a model for similar cooperation elsewhere, which would benefit the broader region and beyond.

15. Both sides agreed to further deepen financial cooperation, support the expansion of the use of local currencies in trade and investment, promote the network of financial institutions and services, and effectively strengthen cross-border regulatory cooperation.

16. Both sides were pleased with the increased number of tourists visiting each other’s countries. The two Leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in tourism and promote people-to-people exchanges. Both sides will strengthen cooperation  in tourism market supervision and safety, effectively protect the tourists’ safety, and promote the growth in the number of tourists, quality of tourism and sustainable tourism between the two countries as well as to explore cooperation in tourism-related industries.  

Science and Technology and Innovation 

17. Both sides agreed that innovation cooperation is a major highlight of cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. Both sides will explore such projects as cooperation in communication technology, open innovation centre , high-tech industrial park and technology transfer centre so as to strengthen the cooperation in such fields as digital economy, smart city, ICT converged application, software and IT service, ICT infrastructure connectivity, digital transformation of industry, cyber security, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Both sides are also aiming to build a digital Silk Road. 

18. Both sides will continue to promote scientific, technological and innovative cooperation for social and economic prosperity and sustainable development by means of joint research and development, exchange of scientists, specialists and researchers, and technology transfer. They also agreed to explore possible cooperation in the areas of Bio, Circular, Green (BCG) Economy and Frontier Technology. 

Education and Culture and People-to-People Connectivity 

19. Both sides were pleased with the on-going education cooperation under the MOU on Education Cooperation and agreed to strengthen multi-level and multi-field cooperation in education through partnership schools, special exchanges, academic exchanges and distance learning, so as to promote talents and provide intellectual support for the development of two countries. 

20. Both sides supported the implementation of the Executive Program for Culture Cooperation for the Years 2019-2021 into concrete outcomes and agreed to explore collaboration in co-organizing cultural activities to commemorate the 45^th anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the People’s Republic of China in 2020. 

21. Both sides will strengthen cooperation in the areas of media and information  to promote people-to-people connectivity and media professional development. The cooperation will be conducted through media facilitations, exchanges of news/documentaries and visits, as well as participation in forums and festivals. 

Regional and International Cooperation

22. China appreciated Thailand's contribution in advancing ASEAN-China relations and East Asian cooperation under its ASEAN chairmanship this year, and congratulated Thailand on the successful hosting of the 35^th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. 

23. Both sides were pleased that ASEAN-China relations continued to be strong, stable and mutually-beneficial and would work together to ensure that the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership remained dynamic and one of the key pillars of peace, stability, prosperity and sustainability in our region. Both sides will continue to reinforce ASEAN-centred regional architecture through existing ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Plus Three (APT), East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus). Both sides also welcomed the continuous efforts to create synergies between MPAC 2025 and the Belt and Road Initiative to help realise the “Connecting the Connectivities” and looked forward to building an ASEAN-China Blue Economy Partnership.  

24. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation under such regional and sub-regional frameworks as ASEAN-China, Mekong-Lancang Cooperation and Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS). Thailand welcomed China in becoming among the first batch of ACMECS Development Partners.  Both sides shared the view that both MLC and ACMECS are complimentary in nature. 

25. Both sides would support ongoing efforts for the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and the conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) at the end of 2021 or earlier, commend the completion of the first reading of the Single Draft COC Negotiating Text (SDNT) and welcome the commencement of the second reading of the SDNT and support practical maritime cooperation including in marine environmental protection, so as to transform the South China Sea into  a sea of peace, stability, and prosperity.

26. Both sides will strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral fora, such as the United Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), uphold the norms and principles enshrined in the UN Charter and work to enhance the interests of developing countries. 

27. Both sides agreed to work together to address the daunting challenges of protectionism and unilateralism in the world, safeguard the rule-based multilateral trading system, and promote the economic globalization towards a direction of openness, inclusiveness, universal benefits, balance and win-win results. Both sides welcomed that the related parties have concluded the text-based negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and would work together on outstanding issues with a view to signing the agreement in 2020.

28. Premier Li Keqiang expressed appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand for the warm and extended an invitation to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to pay a visit to China at a mutually convenient date. Prime Minister Prayut accepted the invitation with appreciation.

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