During 8-11 March 2019, Mr. Ouyang Weimin, Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, led a delegation of high-ranking officials from Guangdong to visit Thailand to promote cordial relations and cooperation between Thailand and Guangdong.

On 11 March 2019, Mr. Ouyang Weimin paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Deputy Foreign Minister, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides exchanged views on ways and means to enhance closer cooperation between Thailand and Guangdong in various areas, particularly in economy, trade, investment and tourism. The Vice Governor agreed with Thailand’s proposal to double Thailand - Guangdong trade and investment volume within 2 years in order to realise Thailand - China bilateral trade goal of 140 billion US dollars by 2021. Both sides also agreed to fully utilise the 6^th Meeting of Thailand - Guangdong Working Group to be hosted by China this year to further promote a more focused and high-yielding economic cooperation.

Both sides welcomed the cooperation between Thailand and Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Guangdong would work to support Thailand’s proposal to establish the High-Level Mechanism on Integrated Cooperation between Thailand and the GBA. The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and the GBA are national projects with strategic visions of Thailand and China, respectively, and can be linked with one another. In light of Thailand’s strategic location in Southeast Asia, Thailand can play a role as a connector to connect the GBA with ASEAN, while the GBA is an important economic zone of China complementing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China’s effort of reform and opening up.

Guangdong is one of China’s provinces that enjoy close cooperation with Thailand and serve as a key distribution centre of Thai agricultural products in China. The Thailand - Guangdong trade volume accounts for one third of Thailand - China total trade and Cantonese tourists rank among top foreign visitors to Thailand. Both sides have been actively working through the Thailand - Guangdong Working Group to further advance the cooperation. In addition, as Guangdong is an important economic area of ​​the GBA having high potential, the cooperation between Thailand and Guangdong will certainly contribute to the overall relations between Thailand and China.

During the visit, Mr. Ouyang Weimin and his delegation also met with the Secretary General of the Board of Investment (BOI) and representatives of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office to exchange views on strengthening related cooperation.