Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul plans to ask Chinese President Xi Jinping to fast-track the decision on China’s purchase of 500,000 tonnes of Thai rice during their meeting at the APEC summit in South Korea.
Ahead of his departure for South Korea, Mr. Anutin stated, “I will use this meeting to discuss several issues, especially the proposed rice imports, which can boost our national revenue and enhance trade relations with China.”
Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthamphan announced she will visit China next month to finalize a government-to-government rice purchase agreement and explore further agricultural cooperation.
China has been Thailand’s biggest trade partner for 12 years, with bilateral trade reaching $96 billion, increasing by 28.1% in the first eight months of this year.
Mr. Anutin’s comments were in response to inquiries about Thailand’s economic strategy following the recent memorandum of understanding with the United States on rare earth minerals. The agreement aims to enhance energy security and support strategic industries like electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat highlighted Mr. Anutin’s participation in two key sessions: “Towards a More Connected, Resilient Region and Beyond” on Friday and “Preparing a Future–Ready Asia–Pacific” on Saturday. These sessions will focus on promoting trade, investments, and the use of AI for sustainable growth.
Mr. Anutin will also deliver a keynote speech at the APEC CEO summit, participate in the ABAC Dialogue, and engage with the US-APEC Coalition. He was expected to attend a special dinner hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, facilitating informal discussions with global leaders.