Thai trade, tourism with China's Liaoning

Trade, investment and tourism between Thai and China's northeastern province of Liaoning will increase markedly in future, Thai deputy prime minister and commerce minister（商务部长） Somkid Jatusripitak said.

Expressing his optimism（乐观）after concluding(结束) a four-day visit and talks with senior Chinese officials in Shenyang and Dalian -- two key cities in Liaoning province, Somkid was quoted by the Thai News Agency on Monday as saying that the talks will lead to additional trade, investment and tourism between the Kingdom and Chinese business interests in that province.

Dalian is a major Chinese seaport and is ready to allow Thai products to be exhibited free for one year, and that Thai goods, especially "Hom Mali" fragrant rice（香米）and various kinds of fruit could open up markets there, he said.

On the other hand, he said, Thailand wants Chinese business to invest in the automobile, machinery, electronics and petrochemical（石化）businesses in Thailand to allow Liaoning business to open their market to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)（东南亚国家联盟）members, while would mean Thailand receiving more returns for its investment.

Currently, there are no direct flights between Thailand and Liaoning, but Somkid said he would encourage commencing（开始）direct flights from Bangkok（曼谷）to Shenyang or from Bangkok to Dalian in an attempt to attract more Chinese visitors to Thailand.

With availability of direct flights, Somkid said he hoped the number of tourists from Liaoning would increase to about 100,000 annually from an estimated 10,000 persons now