I.Political Relations
China and Thailand established diplomatic relations on July 1, 1975. Since then, the relationship between the two countries has consistently grown and remained stable.
In August 2001, both governments issued a joint communiqué, agreeing to enhance strategic cooperation. In April 2012, China and Thailand took their partnership further by establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. This was followed by the release of Long-Term Program on the Development of Thailand – China Relations in October 2013. Both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
In November 2019, the two countries issued the "Joint Press Statement of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand". In November 2022, the two countries issued the "Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Thailand on Building a More Stable, More Prosperous and More Sustainable Community of Shared Future", and signed the "Joint Action Plan of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on China-Thailand Strategic Cooperation (2022-2026)" and the "Cooperation Plan of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on Jointly Promoting the Construction of the Belt and Road". In October 2023, the two countries issued the "Joint Press Communiqué of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand". In February 2025, the two countries issued the "Joint Statement of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on Facing the Future, Putting People at the Center, Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, and Promoting the Construction of a More Stable, More Prosperous and More Sustainable China-Thailand Community with a Shared Future".
The two countries maintain close high-level exchanges. Chinese leaders including President Jiang Zemin (1999), Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Li Peng (1999, 2002), Vice President Hu Jintao (2000), Premier Zhu Rongji (2001), President Hu Jintao (2003), Premier Wen Jiabao (2003, 2009, 2012), Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo (2010), Vice President Xi Jinping (2011), Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin (2012), and Premier Li Keqiang (2013, 2014, 2019), Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Yu Zhengsheng (2015) have successively visited Thailand or attended meetings in Thailand. In 2000, Queen Sirikit of Thailand visited China on behalf of King Bhumibol. Crown Prince (at the time) Vajiralongkorn, Princess Sirindhorn, Princess Chulabhorn, Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Sirivannavari and other members of the royal family have visited China multiple times. Former prime ministers, parliament chairmen, and military leaders have also visited China. In July 2020, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with Prime Minister Prayut.Premier Li Keqiang and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanged letters with Prime Minister Prayut and Foreign Minister Don on the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. In October of the same year, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid an official visit to Thailand. In November, President Xi Jinping went to Bangkok to attend the 29th APEC Leaders’ Meeting and visited Thailand.
In February 2023, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai visited China. In June, HRH Princess Sirindhorn’s made her 50th visit to China. During August, Premier Li Qiang met with Dhanin Chearavanont, Senior Chairman of Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Group, while Deputy PM Don conducted a working visit to China. In October, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin attended the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing and paid an official state visit. In December, Prime Minister Srettha participate virtually in the Fourth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders’ Meeting, while Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara traveled to China for the Eighth LMC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
In January 2024, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited Thailand. In April, HRH Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand travel to China, followed by Princess Chulabhorn’s visit in May. In the same month, Shohrat Zakir, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, visited Thailand. In July, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa visited China, while in August, Minister Wang Yi attended the Ninth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Thailand and HRH Princess Sirindhorn visited China. In October, Premier Li Qiang met Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during ASEAN summit and related meetings. The following month, Prime Minister Paetongtarn attended the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting in China.President Xi Jinping met with Thai Prime Minister Petunthan during his visit to Lima, Peru to attend the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.
In February 2025, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra paid an official visit to China and attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin. In April 2025, HRH Princess Sirindhorn visited China.
Both countries have established embassies in each other’s country, while China has consulates general in Chiang Mai, Songkhla, and Khong Kaen, and a consulate office in Phuket. Hong Kong also has an economic and trade office in Bangkok. On the other hand, Thailand has consulates general in Guangzhou, Kunming, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Xiamen, Xi’an, Nanning, and Qingdao.
II. Economic and trade relations
China remains Thailand's largest trading partner, while Thailand serves as a major trading partner in ASEAN for China. In 2024, bilateral trade volume reached $133.98 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 6.1%. China's exports were US$86.04 billion, a year-on-year increase of 13.6%, and imports were US$47.95 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 5.2%.
The two countries established a ministerial level Economic and Trade Joint Committee in 1985, which was later promoted to Vice Premier level in June 2003. So far, six meetings have been held between the two sides. The first meeting of the Joint Committee, jointly chaired by Vice Premier Wu Yi and Vice Premier Chavalit, took place in Beijing in July 2004. The fifth meeting of the Joint Committee was jointly chaired by State Councilor Wang Yong and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid in Beijing in December 2016. The sixth meeting of the Joint Committee was jointly chaired by State Councilor Wang Yong and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid in Bangkok in August 2018.
Various agreements have been signed between the two countries, including the Promotion and Protection of Investment Agreement (1985), the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Tax Evasion Agreement (1986), the Memorandum of Understanding on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation (1997), and the Bilateral Currency Exchange Agreement (2011, 2014). In October 2003, the two countries implemented a zero tariff arrangement for vegetables and fruits within the framework of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. Thailand recognized China’s full market economy status. In June 2009, the two countries signed the Agreement on Expanding and Deepening Bilateral Economic and Trade Cooperation. In April 2012, both countries concluded the Five-Year Development Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation. In December 2014, the People's Bank of China and the Bank of Thailand signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Establishing RMB Clearing Arrangements in Thailand, and renewed the Bilateral Local Currency Swap Agreement.
III. Exchange and cooperation in other fields
The exchange and cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including technology, education, culture, health, justice, and military, have developed steadily. The two sides have signed the Science and Technology Cooperation (1978), the Agreement on Tourism Cooperation (1993), the Treaty on Extradition (1993), the Agreement on Judicial Assistance and Arbitration Cooperation in Civil and Commercial Matters (1994), the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation (2001), the Treaty on Judicial Assistance in Criminal Matters (2003), the Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications and Degrees (2007), and the Agreement on Education Cooperation (2009). In 2001, the defense ministries of both countries established an annual defense and security consultation mechanism. In 2024, representatives of both governments signed the Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on Mutual Exemption of Visas for Ordinary Passports Holders of.
The two sides established the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association (1976) and the Chinese-Thai Friendship Association (1987). The two countries have established 41 pairs of sister cities and provinces.