On 3-5 August 2017, the Honourable Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China paid an official visit to Thailand as guest of H.E. Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister of  the Kingdom of Thailand. 

During the visit, Chief Executive Lam paid respect to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace. She then paid a courtesy call on H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-Cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand at the Government House, before meeting with ministers of economic agencies hosted by H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was joined by H.E. Ms. Apiradi Tantraporn, Minister of Commerce, H.E. Dr. Pichet Durongkaverote, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, H.E. Dr. Uttama Savanayana, Minister of Industry, Dr. Kanit Sangsubhan, Secretary-General of Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office of Thailand, and senior officials of relevant ministries.  In the afternoon, Chief Executive Lam attended the “CLMVT” CEO Round Table Forum and the “Next Generation Industries” CEO Round Table Forum, and met leaders of the
Thai private sector from various fields which have potential for cooperation with Hong Kong SAR.

During these meetings, the two sides discussed how to increase economic cooperation, particularly in areas of trade, investment including in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), as well as Hong Kong’s readiness to share expertise in services sector especially in finance and city management. The two sides also discussed opportunities for cooperation arising from China’s and Thailand’s strategies, namely: “Belt and Road” Initiative, the Hong Kong - Guangdong - Macau Greater Bay Area, and Thailand 4.0. These opportunities include tourism, education, science and technology, innovation, research and development.

Mrs. Lam was elected as Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR of the People’s Republic of China on 26 March 2017. Her visit was the first official visit to Thailand by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR since the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR and the handover of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China in 1997.  It was, however, the second official visit to Thailand for Mrs. Lam, who had visited the Kingdom while serving as the Chief Secretary for Administration on 4 - 6 September 2013.  Thailand was one of the first overseas trips that Mrs. Lam made right after her inauguration as the Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR on 1 July 2017.  Prior to her visit to Thailand, Mrs. Lam paid a visit to Singapore on 2 - 3 August 2017.