(3 July, 2024, Bangkok) On the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, so as to promote deeper exchanges between the Sino-Thai two-way economies, Head of Delegation Ms Pansy Ho, the Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, lead over 200 delegates comprising various industry leaders from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR on a visit to Bangkok, Thailand from July 1 to 2, 2024. As a program officially designated under the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China’s “Nihao! China” overseas tourism promotional campaign, the visit encompassed a “China-Thailand Cultural Tourism Industry Summit”, a welcome dinner, business matchmaking, bilateral meetings and in-person visits to Thailand’s top tourist destinations. This visit seeks to enact the vision of harmonious cooperation shared by nation leaders President Xi Jinping and H.E. Mr. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, by leveraging upon opportunities for innovation in the Sino-Thai industries, deepening friendships across all circles, and generating heightened anticipation for the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Sino-Thai bilateral relations in the following year.
Ever since the establishment of Sino-Thai bilateral relations in 1975, the two countries have witnessed healthy and cooperative growth, enjoying seamless cooperation across various fields and achieving continued successes one after the other. In 2023, President Xi Jinping invited H.E. Mr. Srettha Thavisin to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China. It was there that the two leaders doubled down on their shared vision for realizing a future of a stable, prosperous and sustainable Thailand-Chinese community, committing to strategically broaden their scope of cooperation in commercial sectors such as the cultural tourism industry, and decisively reaffirming the principle that “Thailand and China are as close as one family”.
In March 2023, the visa exemption agreement between China and Thailand came into effect, ushering in a “visa-free era” that resulted in a surge of “two-way pursuits” between Chinese and Thai tourists, thereby generated immense growth for the two economies. The Thailand Ministry of Sports and Tourism estimates that the country will attract over 8 million Chinese tourists in 2024, contributing to over 320 billion Thai Baht in consumer spending. On the Chinese front, similar interest among Thai tourists have also been recorded, with a more than 160% increase in Thai tourists to China since 2019, according to figures by Trip.com. These close interpersonal exchanges generate development opportunities for various sectors across China and Thailand, and also lay a solid foundation for greater enhancement of bilateral relations.
Riding on the continuously deepening relationship of trust between the two nations, the Delegation of China Business Leaders Visiting Thailand is thus perfectly timed. The visit is organised by the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre; co-organised by the China Chamber of Tourism and the China Women’s Chamber of Commerce; and supported by the Embassy of The People's Republic of China in The Kingdom of Thailand, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Pacific Asia Travel Association. Head and co-head of the delegation include: Vice-Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce; Chairman of Global Tourism Economy Research Centre; Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of Global Tourism Economy Forum Ms Pansy Ho; Chairman of China Chamber of Commerce; Chairman of Daycash Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd. Mr Ji Xiaodong; Party Secretary of China Women’s Chamber of Commerce; Party Secretary and Chairman of Ronghua Holdings Group Ms Cui Ronghua, and President of Suning Global Group, Ms Wu Zhaolan.
On July 1, the delegation visit officially opened with a China-Thailand Cultural Tourism Industry Summit (hereafter “Summit) in Bangkok, Thailand. Industry leaders from various sectors across Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR had insightful face-to-face exchanges with representatives from the Thai government, commercial and cultural tourism industry sectors, discussing avenues for cooperation in the Sino-Thai cultural industries, and contributing powerful growth impetus towards the two economies. During the Summit, several heavyweight speakers engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as the trends, investment opportunities, and avenues to strengthen the mutually beneficial, interconnected, and integrated development in Sino-Thai's cultural tourism industry, as well as the investment prospects and development potential of Thailand's cultural tourism industry, ultimately striving to achieving win-win cooperation between the two economies.
The Summit also facilitated business matchmaking between attendees, fostering ample face-to-face opportunities for cultural tourism leaders between both nations, strengthening cooperation, integrating resources, and jointly creating innovative and attractive cultural tourism products. It also actively promoted the coordinated development of the two countries’ cultural tourism brands, exploring new directions, developing new models, and targeting new opportunities that will inject catalysing momentum for the healthy mutual development of the Sino-Thai cultural tourism industries.
On the second day of the delegation visit, the itinerary was centred around a series of on-site inspection activities. Chief among these was the group's visit to a landmark commercial development project located in the heart of Bangkok, the ICONSIAM, which provided an opportunity for a thorough examination of Thailand's dynamic commercial sector and innovative practices, while also facilitating an invaluable juncture for mutual learning in consumer retail — ultimately charting new avenues for broader collaborative growth across China and Thailand.
The group was also invited to visit the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s (PATA) headquarters, where delegates engaged in extensive and fruitful discussions with PATA’s leadership on topics such as regional tourism cooperation and cultural exchange, jointly formulating strategies to promote the prosperous development of the tourism industries in both countries. The delegation also toured the Amata Industrial Park, home to numerous prominent Thai and international enterprises, and serving as a critical industrial hub for Thailand and the broader Southeast Asian region. The visits provided the delegation members with a more direct and comprehensive understanding of Thailand's industrial development and investment environment, paving the way for new prospects and opportunities for China-Thailand collaboration in the manufacturing sector.
In the evening, delegation members joined Thai representatives from various circles for a Sichuan-style hot pot dinner. This relaxed occasion allowed them to review the insights and accomplishments gained across the two-day period of the delegation visit, further deepening bonds in a casual and intimate setting, and thus capping off the delegation's successful visit in a lively and auspicious manner.
Thank you to the sponsors: MGM China Holdings Limited, Mekong Group Mekong Tourism Co., Ltd., Better Way (Asia) Limited, Paradise Entertainment Limited, and Siam Piwat, as well as the hotel and venue partner, Rabbit Holdings PLC, for their generous support and trust.
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