Thailand’s Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot has led a delegation of 35 Thai businessmen to China's Yunnan province to promote Thai exports and persuade the Chinese authorities to eliminate fruit export barriers, reports nationmultimedia.com.
While in China, Mr Alongkorn will seek cooperation from the Chinese government in developing a logistics system that will facilitate Thai exporters. And he will negotiate a reduction in import tariffs on Thai fruits, which still face 13-per-cent value-added tax, while fruit imports from China are tariff-free, the publication said.
The mission will also encourage the Chinese to invest in several sectors in the Thailand, including trading and logistics. China is one of Thailand's largest investors.
Speaking prior to the trip, Mr Alongkorn said the slowdown in global economic growth had created difficulties for boosting bilateral trade between Thailand and China, and that the two countries were likely to miss their target of bolstering bilateral trade to US$50bn (Bt1.77tn) next year.
Missing the target with China will almost certainly ensure that Thailand's export growth suffers a contraction, nationmultimedia.com said. China now ranks third among Thailand's trading partners, accounting for 9 per cent of the Kingdom's combined export value.
The Commerce Ministry said exports to China had dropped a dramatic 27.6 per cent year on year to US$2.9bn in the first quarter, while imports from China plunged 29.9 per cent to US$3.37bn.
Last year, two-way trade was worth US$36.23bn, with Thailand's exports valued at US$16.19bn.
Leaders of Thailand and China will meet when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva leads a roadshow to Beijing in June. Besides a plan to promote trade and investment with Thailand, Mr Abhisit will also meet with Chinese leaders to lower the target for two-way trade value.
