During 16-20 July 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister, on an official visit to the People’s Republic of China at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. This visit marked the Prime Minister’s first official visit to the People's Republic of China and the first high-level visit as the two countries entered the 51st year of diplomatic relations. The visit included three major cities in China, namely Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs participated in the meetings between the Prime Minister and the Chinese leaders, including a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, on 16 July 2026 in Shanghai, the full bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, and the meeting with H.E. Mr. Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, on 20 July 2026 in Beijing.

On this occasion, both sides commended the close ties between Thailand and China and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership across all dimensions.

On security cooperation, the two sides announced the establishment of the Thailand-China 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, to be co-chaired by their respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Defence. They also pledged to step up cooperation against transnational crimes, with a particular focus on cracking down on online scam syndicates.

The two sides agreed to further strengthen practical cooperation in the areas of the economy, connectivity, and supply chain resilience. They also expressed their readiness to enhance partnership in science, technology, and innovation (STI), alongside future industries such as AI, clean energy, and digital economy. In addition, they reaffirmed their commitment to promoting people-to-people exchanges to foster mutual understanding and enduring friendship between the two countries.

Thailand and China shared the view that their Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership is of great significance to regional peace, stability, and development. The two sides also agreed to further enhance their strategic coordination in international fora and regional cooperation frameworks, including ASEAN-China, the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) framework, and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).

On the same occasion, the two leaders jointly witnessed the signing ceremony of 15 key agreements and MoUs between Thai and Chinese government agencies, covering cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, public health, science, technology, anti-fraud, education, and media, with the aim of advancing Thai-China cooperation and delivering long-term benefits to the peoples of both countries.

Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs attended the opening ceremony of 'Thailand-China (Sichuan) Investment and Economic Forum 2026' in Chengdu, presided over by the Prime Minister. The Deputy Prime Minister also participated in the Prime Minister's meetings with leading Chinese private executives to promote trade and investment cooperation. Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs took part in the meetings between the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Shanghai, as well as discussions with the Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Committee and the Governor of Sichuan Province, to explore ways to strengthen subnational cooperation in Shanghai and Chengdu, respectively. The Prime Minister and his delegation were warmly welcomed by Provincial leaders in both cities.

Furthermore, during the visit, the Governments of Thailand and China issued a Joint Statement on advancing the Thailand-China Community with a Shared Future for Shared Prosperity, reflecting a forward-looking vision, and reaffirming the two countries’ commitment to advancing their strategic partnership in ways that will generate mutual benefits for both nations, the region, and the wider international community.