Opening-up seen injecting impetus to Sino-Thai trade

China's opening-up efforts are injecting momentum into bilateral trade with Thailand, especially for premium Thai exports such as durian and cosmetics, a leading Thai business representative has said.

Confident that China will emerge as "the world's largest retail market" within four to five years, Phaichit Viboontanasarn, vice-chairman and secretary-general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce in China, said: "The Chinese market is vibrant and brimming with potential. With only a four-to-five-hour flight separating Thailand and China, Thai enterprises are well-positioned to seize these opportunities by understanding Chinese consumer preferences and delivering more high-quality Thai products and services. I am optimistic that meaningful progress will unfold in the near term."

China's Ministry of Commerce said that in 2025, bilateral trade between Thailand and China surpassed 1 trillion yuan ($147.8 billion), up 15.1 percent year-on-year.

Thailand's Ministry of Commerce said that in April, the country's exports to the rest of the world climbed 23.1 percent year-on-year to $31.5 billion, reflecting the growing competitiveness of the Southeast Asian nation's products.

Citing the "Big Market for All: Export to China" initiative — a move by China's commerce ministry to expand the nation's opening-up — Phaichit said: "I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Chinese government for its steadfast efforts to further open its market in recent years. This campaign is a clear demonstration of China's genuine commitment to welcoming foreign products and enabling Chinese consumers to enjoy a wider range of high-quality goods.

"The approval of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which places strong emphasis on further market liberalization, is equally encouraging. And we continue to see landmark events such as the China International Import Expo in Shanghai grow in scale and influence year after year."

Suphajee Suthumpun, Thai deputy prime minister and minister of commerce, said China remains Thailand's most important trading partner, and a wider range of Thai products are gaining popularity among Chinese consumers.

Phaichit said: "China's market is growing tremendously — not only in scale, but in sophistication. Against the backdrop of China's high-quality development, I firmly believe this is a moment the world cannot afford to overlook, and Thailand is no exception.

"We warmly welcome Chinese consumers to discover Thailand's exceptional products and services, and to explore everything our country can offer. The opportunities are boundless. More broadly, I envision the two countries enjoying a flourishing and enduring diplomatic relationship for the next 50 years and beyond."

Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said: "China boasts vast consumers from abundant levels. Meanwhile, the Chinese government always prioritizes trade and investment facilitation. By lowering taxes, expanding market access and increasing the import of agricultural products, foreign countries with lower costs are exporting to China with stronger trade stability.

"The Chinese market is key to import and export enterprises from all over the world. Some of their products, with value-added through Chinese industrial chains, can be better exported to other parts of the world. In addition, expos such as the CIIE and the Canton Fair also promote exports from other countries to China."

zhengyiran@chinadaily.com.cn