Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul led a high-level Thai delegation to advance Thailand’s tourism cooperation with western China through government and business engagements during his official visit to China from 16 to 20 July 2026, covering Shanghai, Chengdu and Beijing.
The Prime Minister today presided over the Thailand–China Sichuan Investment and Economic Forum 2026, which brought the Thai delegation together with more than 200 representatives of leading businesses in western China to discuss investment and economic cooperation.
The delegation included Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation; Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry; and Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society.
Also attending were H.E. Mr. Chatchai Viriyavejakul, Ambassador of Thailand to the People’s Republic of China; Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary-General of the Thailand Board of Investment; and Mr. Sake Nopthaisong, Consul-General of Thailand in Chengdu, together with senior representatives of Thailand’s public and private sectors.
The delegation was formally welcomed by Ms. Shi Xiaolin, Governor of Sichuan Province; Mr. Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the Communist Party of China Sichuan Provincial Committee; and senior provincial officials and executives.
During the forum, the Prime Minister met separately with Mr. Wang Fei, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Sichuan Airlines Group, and Mr. Li Jinfei, Vice President and Head of Hotels and Travel at Meituan, in special one-on-one meetings arranged by TAT Governor Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool.
Strategic cooperation with Sichuan Airlines centred on restoring the Chengdu–Chiang Mai service and exploring new routes to Hua Hin Airport and U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport, expanding access beyond Thailand’s established gateways and supporting growing demand from western China.
Separately, TAT’s Ms. Thapanee discussed an expanded strategic partnership with Meituan, a major Chinese digital platform. Proposed cooperation includes data exchange to support market analysis and a Thailand National Campaign under the Two-Way Tourism concept, alongside gastronomy promotion through the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide and support for TAT’s Trusted Thailand initiative to strengthen confidence among Chinese travellers.
The engagements align with the policy of Mr. Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, to strengthen tourism infrastructure and air connectivity, including the development of Hua Hin Airport for international services and the wider use of U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport as a regional gateway.
The discussions are expected to advance new direct air services alongside joint marketing with major Chinese partners, supporting Thailand’s tourism performance in the second half of 2026 and throughout 2027. The wider market drive targets more than 5.13 million Chinese visitors and at least 288.385 billion Baht in tourism revenue.
