Push deepened for south China links
THAI and Chinese officials are pushing ahead with preparations for a high-level meeting on trade and economic cooperation that will advance the goal of connecting Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy with China’s Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region.
After recent talks with China's Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said that Beijing’s One Belt, One Road initiative and cooperation on the Thailand-China high-speed railway were reaffirmed as projects of great importance and that both parties were satisfied with their progress.
Construction on the Bangkok-Nong Khai route of the multi-country rail project is expected to begin November, Somkid said.
The high-level meeting, for which a joint committee has been formed, is scheduled for early next year. It will also focus on upgrading both countries' relationship in agricultural trade, with an emphasis on technology that can lead to the production of higher-vale value agricultural products, he said.
Also in the frame will be cooperation on further development in manufacturing, services and logistics, with the establishment of technology-focused clusters in particular, he said.
On the discussions for linking Thailand with the PPRD region, Somkid and Zhang noted that such cooperation could yield optimal benefits for Beijing’s Silk Route initiative and Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
The PPRD comprises 11 provinces in China, centred largely in the country’s south, with Guangdong and Hong Kong at its heart.
The planned linkage could enable Thailand to play a facilitating role between the PPRD and other Asean countries, including the so-called CLMV states: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, Somkid said.
According to Nattaporn Jatusripitak, the Minister Adviser to the Office of the Prime Minister, Somkid also proposed that China establish a mechanism for regional to regional strategic cooperation that would enable the linkage between the PPRD and Asean. This would elevate the relationship beyond country to country cooperation.
Nattaporn said the project was very important and has been under discussion for 10 years.
Hong Kong recently decided to establish an economic and trade office in Thailand that could play a key role in helping investors from southern China to do business in Thailand and Asean. Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is proceeding with this matter.
In regard to strategic cooperation, Thailand is advocating the upgrading of Thai communities, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing and logistics.
Zhang said that China regarded Thailand, as a near neighbour, as a county with which it has enjoyed a long relationship. As China has been making progress on modern agricultural methods and innovation, it welcomed an opportunity to cooperate further with Thailand.
China attached high value to the Thailand-China train project, given that it forms part of a major new route, Zhang said.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith reported at the meeting that two contracts had been signed, on September 4, for the design and construction of the Bangkok to Nong Khai phase of the route. The third contract, for a signalling system, will be signed next year.
Negotiations for the second phase of the project, from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, are expected to be finalised in 2018.
