Giant firms to accompany Yingluck to China
A number of Thai large-sized companies will accompany Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to China, under the government's mission to boost bilateral trade to US$120 billion within 2016.
Operators from the tourism and hospital industries will also join the trip, as well .
According to the government's website - www.thaigov.go.th, among the companies include Charoen Pokphand Group, Italian-Thai Development, GMM Grammy, Banpu, Thaicom, Mitr Phol Group, Saha Farm, Bangkok Bank, Siam Commercial Bank and Bank of Ayudhya.
Yingluck will visit China during April 17-20 on invitation from China's Premier Wen Jiabao.
The Thai government said that the main mission is to strengthen the diplomatic relationship and their strategic cooperation particularly in infrastructure development - like the high-speed train, water management, renewable energy, human resource development, education and culture. It would also seek to expand the cooperation to cover Asean and the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
Yingluck will also be accompanied by the ministers from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Transport, National Resources and Environment, ICT, Commerce, Education and Industry.
On agenda is the signing of cooperation pacts, which covered trade, education, agriculture, water management and high-speed train.
Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said in a separate statement that the cooperation should boost the bilateral trade to $120 billion in the next five years.
At present, the bilateral trade is valued at $58 billion. In 2011, Thailand's exports to China fetched $27 billion, up by 27.6 per cent from the previous year. Main export items included para rubber, computer and parts, chemicals and plastic pellets. Import value totalled $31 billion, up by 26.2 per cent. Main import items were electrical machinery and parts, computer, electrical appliances and steel.
