Li Qiang Thailand visit to focus on tourism safety and trade

Li Qiang, the Chinese Premier, will visit Thailand from Friday to Sunday (November 13 to 15) for talks that put tourism safety, online crime, trade and investment at the top of the agenda. The Bangkok Post reported the plans on Thursday, citing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

The trip follows Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's recent visit to Beijing, where he met President Xi Jinping and Premier Li. In July the two governments signed a strategic partnership agreement at the Great Hall of the People.

Why the Li Qiang visit matters to Thailand

Mr Sihasak described China as an important partner and a major export market for Thailand. He said Chinese investment in the kingdom was growing and that the visit reflected how much weight Bangkok places on the relationship.

Both sides want to strengthen political ties after the leaders' meetings in China. The talks are also expected to cover a proposed "2+2" framework that would bring together the foreign and defence ministers of both countries in 2027.

Tourism safety and scams on the table

Tourism safety is expected to be one of the main issues. China remains one of Thailand's key visitor markets, and arrivals from the mainland have been under pressure this year, as we covered in our report on falling Chinese tourist arrivals.

According to the Bangkok Post, Mr Sihasak said Thailand needed to:

• reassure Chinese travellers that the country is safe to visit;
• clear up concerns about scams that target visitors;
• communicate security warnings more clearly, so that travellers are not alarmed without reason.

The two governments will also discuss working together against technology-related crime and identifying people involved in scam operations. For holidaymakers on the island, our guide to common Phuket tourist scams explains what to watch out for.

Electric vehicles and investment

Economic cooperation, especially investment in emerging industries, is set to feature heavily. Mr Sihasak said Thailand wants Chinese money in sectors such as artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.

He added that Thailand is looking for projects that bring advanced technology, develop local expertise and transfer knowledge to Thai workers, rather than projects focused only on assembling vehicles.

On Tuesday the Thai cabinet approved in principle two draft memorandums of understanding to be signed during the visit. One of them, between Thailand's Industry Ministry and China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, aims to promote investment, trade, innovation and cooperation in electric and smart vehicles.

That five-year agreement covers investment, trade, vehicle standards, industrial management and policy measures. It includes battery production and recycling, as well as stronger automotive supply chains. A joint working group would coordinate the plans, and the pact would not create legally binding obligations on the state budget, the newspaper said.

Trade deficit and transport links

The premier's talks will also look at Thailand's large trade deficit with China and ways to deepen trade and investment ties. Rail links are part of that wider picture, as our earlier story on Thailand's rail links with Laos and China explained.

For Phuket, where Chinese visitors are an important part of the tourism economy, any agreement that improves traveller confidence could matter in the coming high season. The details of the second memorandum and any announcements on tourism have not yet been published.

What happens next

The visit runs until Sunday, and the two memorandums approved by cabinet are expected to be signed while the premier is in the country. Officials have not yet released a full public schedule for the premier's time in Thailand. Phuket Times will update readers when the outcome of the talks and the signed agreements are made public.

Image: Chinese Premier Li Qiang in 2025. Photo by Christophe Licoppe / European Union via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0.