BANGKOK, Sept 18 — Thailand and China have agreed to increase their bilateral trade and investment as the Thailand-China Joint Trade Committee will soon meet in Beijing and Thailand, said Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula today.
Mr Pridiyathorn told journalists after holding talks with Chinese ambassador to Thailand Ning Fukui that their discussions focused on cooperation on trade and investment between the two countries.
He said members of the Thailand-China Joint Trade Committee would meet regarding what Thai industries Chinese investors could invest in.
The committee will first meet in Beijing and later in Thailand.
Thailand’s trade with China has soared from 15 years ago, said Mr Pridiyathorn, adding that the country’s trade has jumped to 12 per cent of total exports now compared to only 2 per cent then.
Thailand can depend on China for its exports and China is considered as the main pillar of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, he said.
Touching on a government plan to collect inheritance and land taxes, Mr Pridiyathorn said the issue would be forwarded to the National Legislative Assembly as soon as possible, especially the inheritance tax.
He said several sectors have no objection on collecting a 10 per cent inheritance tax by the government because some countries now collect such taxes as high as 50 per cent.
