At the invitation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand (MOAC), Deng Xiaogang, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, visited Thailand from Oct. 10–14, meeting with Thamanat Prompow, newly appointed Minister of MOAC, in Bangkok on Oct. 11. They had an in-depth exchange on enhancing agricultural cooperation between China and Thailand.  

Vice Minister Deng said that China and Thailand, two close and friendly neighbors, have maintained close agricultural S&T exchanges and frequent people-to-people exchanges, and have achieved remarkable results in economic and trade cooperation in agriculture. The purpose of the visit was to discuss with Thailand detailed measures to further deepen pragmatic cooperation in agriculture, so as to jointly build a China–Thailand community with a shared future for enhanced stability, prosperity and sustainability. Vice Minister Deng introduced China’s experience and practices in areas that concern Thailand including safeguarding food security, poverty alleviation, agricultural S&T innovation, and disaster mitigation and relief. He also exchanged views with Minister Thamanat Prompow on strengthening policy dialogue and alignment, boosting economic and trade cooperation in agriculture, and carrying out the protection and utilization of agricultural heritage, among other issues. They agreed to convene the 13^th meeting of the China–Thailand Working Group on Agricultural Cooperation as soon as possible and implement new agricultural exchange plans and projects. Chaiya Promma, Deputy Minister of MOAC, Prayoon Inskul, Permanent Secretary of MOAC, Sedthakiat Krajangwongs, Deputy Permanent Secretary of MOAC, and other Thai officials attended the meeting.  

During his stay in Thailand, Vice Minister Deng visited the headquarters of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), where he met with Adirek Sripratak, Senior Vice Chairman of CP Group, and Thanakorn Seriburi, Senior Vice Chairman of CP Group. The CP Group spoke highly of China’s development path and philosophy, and said they hope to step up corporate investment in China’s agriculture sector, thus contributing to agricultural cooperation between the two countries. Vice Minister Deng said that China will further open up its agricultural sector and create a favorable business environment for foreign agricultural companies including CP Group. He said China hopes that CP Group can continue to leverage its strengths to participate in China’s efforts to propel rural revitalization on all fronts and move faster to build up China’s strength in agriculture. Vice Minister Deng also visited Chinese-funded companies in Thailand including Guangdong Agribusiness Group Corporation to learn about its production and operation, as well as the Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market in Bangkok.