Kittiratt to discuss flood crisis with Wen during trade visit to China

Thai officials will present a plan to boost annual bilateral trade to US$100 billion (about Bt3 trillion) by 2015, building on the fast-growing commerce between the countries since a bilateral free-trade agreement was implemented in 2003.
Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong will meet with Premier Wen Jiabao to express the Kingdom’s deep appreciation to China for providing assistance during the flooding.
They may also discuss how China could help Thailand to recover after the flood waters subside.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra originally planned to lead the Thai delegation to meet the Chinese premier, but the gravity of the flood crisis has delayed her visit.
Kittiratt will also discuss the government’s ideas for remedial measures after the floods, as it seeks to increase confidence among Chinese traders and investors in Thailand.
The deputy PM will also call on the Chinese government to support its state agencies in importing more Thai goods and increasing investment in Thailand. Under the plan, Thailand and China are targeted to expand two-way investment by 15 per cent a year from 2012 to 2016.
Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of the Department of Export Promotion, said the meeting would focus on how to promote bilateral trade and investment to guarantee regional growth.
China is Thailand’s second-largest trading partner after Japan, and more trade and investment promotion will ensure strong exports to the giant market, she said.
Two-way trade between Thailand and China, including Hong Kong, totalled $49 billion over the first nine months of the year.
Kittiratt will also visit the eighth China-Asean Expo in Nanning this week as part of the strategy to promote Thai products to the huge Chinese population.