Chongqing - The Thai Pavilion officially opened on May 22 at the 7th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) in Chongqing, where Thailand is featured as this year’s Guest Country of Honor.
More than 40 Thai companies participated in the pavilion, drawing large crowds with a vibrant array of products ranging from skincare and balms to jasmine rice and tropical fruits. The display exuded Southeast Asian flair, offering visitors a taste of Thailand’s cultural and commercial richness.
In addition to traditional consumer goods, the pavilion also highlighted tourism services, signaling Thailand’s expanding scope of cooperation with China.
Lin Dayou, Consul of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chengdu, expressed hopes that WCIFIT would provide Thai enterprises with new opportunities to collaborate with Chongqing and further strengthen business exchanges between Thai and Chinese companies.
Among the exhibitors was Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, which promotes travel routes between Thailand and China. Lily Xiong, the company's District Sales Manager for Chengdu and Western China, noted that China’s visa-free policy has spurred Thai tourists to visit Chongqing and Chengdu, making them increasingly popular destinations. She added that the airline is actively planning to launch a Chongqing route in the near future.
Peter Lam, President of Chongqing Thai Rice House Catering Management Co. Ltd., shared views on Chongqing’s thriving food market and Thai enterprises. Given the geographic proximity and frequent travel exchanges between Chongqing and Thailand, he said, many Chinese tourists return with a taste for Thai cuisine.
On May 22, the Thai Pavilion officially opened, with a wide range of featured products from Thai enterprises attracting large crowds of visitors. (Photo/Luo Huxin)
China and Thailand mark 50 years of diplomatic ties this year, highlighting a deepening partnership. As western China rises, cities like Chongqing are becoming new bridges connecting the two nations in trade, culture, and innovation.
Economic cooperation between Chongqing and Thailand continues to deepen. According to Chongqing Customs District, bilateral trade reached 22 billion yuan (3.05 billion USD) in 2024, a 35.9% year-on-year increase. In Q1 2025 alone, trade volume hit 5.8 billion yuan, up 18.7%, placing Thailand among Chongqing’s top three ASEAN trading partners.
On May 16, Changan Automobile officially began production at its new electric vehicle (NEV) factory in Rayong Thailand. This marks both the company’s and Chongqing’s first overseas NEV manufacturing base, with an annual capacity of 100,000 vehicles in its first phase.
Meanwhile, Thai agricultural exports—especially durians—are entering Chongqing more rapidly. With the China-Laos Railway now extended into Thailand, Chongqing has launched a direct freight route via the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC). Through cold-chain logistics, Thai durians can now reach Chongqing’s Jiangjin District in just 88 hours, enhancing their accessibility and popularity.
Cultural and people-to-people exchanges are also on the rise. As of April 2025, the Chongqing–Bangkok air route has been increased to 28 weekly flights, making it the city’s most frequent international connection and further strengthening ties between the two regions.