China-Thailand Economic And Trade Cooperation Welcomes New Opportunity Period
"I am a child who grew up in the mountains of northern Thailand. Working for a Chinese company has changed my life drastically." 35-year-old Nongnu told reporters. Nonnu and her husband both work in the Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park, located more than 100 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. They are the first batch of Thai employees hired by General Rubber (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of General Motors Co., Ltd., a company in the park.
Established in 2006, the Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park is one of China's first overseas economic and trade cooperation zones. More than 10 years after the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative was proposed, the industrial park has entered a period of rapid development. It has attracted nearly 250 Chinese companies to settle in and more than 50,000 Thai employees work here. In the process of China and Thailand's high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road", these employees have gained a real sense of gain and happiness.
"A powerful boost to employment and export earnings"
Entering the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Park, transportation vehicles shuttle back and forth, and there are many office buildings, factories, and warehouses. Nearly 250 Chinese companies have settled here, covering fields such as automobile and motorcycle parts, new energy, new materials, smart homes, machinery and electronics, and a total of The total output value exceeds 30 billion US dollars.
In recent months, Zhao Bin, president of the Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park, has been very busy. At the busiest time, he had to receive 10 companies a day for inspection. "There will be more than 700 companies inspected in 2023, and currently about 30 Chinese companies have completed registration in the second area of the park project." Zhao Bin said.
The total planned area of the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Park is 20 square kilometers, of which the first area of the project is 12 square kilometers, and the enterprises settled there are basically in a saturated state. The second area of the project plans to develop 8 square kilometers, and the first phase of 4 square kilometers is under development, construction and investment promotion. The park has become an important platform and carrier for China-Thailand production capacity cooperation, and is also the largest industrial cluster center and manufacturing export base for Chinese companies in ASEAN. Zhao Bin introduced that manufacturing is the key investment target of the park. Now the park has accelerated the development progress of the second area of the project and is actively improving the infrastructure construction supporting facilities.
The Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park sprouted and grew in the fertile soil for China-ASEAN cooperation and development. After the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative was proposed, the development of the park has entered the "fast lane". So far, the companies stationed in the park have driven Chinese investment in Thailand to over US$4.8 billion, accounting for more than 40% of China's investment in Thailand's manufacturing industry, becoming a model for China-Thailand production capacity cooperation. Zhao Bin said that the park has attracted some industry-leading Chinese companies to invest in Thailand, "directly driving relevant upstream and downstream companies to invest in Thailand, and promoting Thailand to build a relatively complete industrial chain. The restructuring of the supply chain promoted by Chinese companies' overseas investment has also enhanced regional industrial cooperation."
According to Qiu Weigong, president of Amata Group, the Thai investor in the Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park, "The industrial park has effectively boosted employment and export earnings, and injected strong impetus into the economic and social development of Rayong Province and even Thailand."
"Working here makes me confident about the future"
Run Sun Photovoltaic Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Run Sun Photovoltaic") is a photovoltaic company that entered the Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park in 2020. It focuses on the R&D and production of high-efficiency solar cells, and its products are mainly targeted at overseas markets. "China's photovoltaic technology leads the world, and corporate orders are gradually rising." Li Haibo, deputy director of operations of Runyang Solar Manufacturing Department, told reporters that the company currently has about 2,000 employees and is one of the largest photovoltaic companies in Thailand.
When the reporter walked into the production workshop of Runyang PV, it was just in time for the employees to take their lunch break. It rains a lot in Thailand. In order to make it easier for employees to eat, the company moved the canteen near the work area so that employees can eat delicious meals just around the corner. Chayupong, a 29-year-old Thai boy, returned from Peking University in 2022 and came to work in Runyang PV. He very much likes the united and friendly atmosphere of this company. "When I first came here, I was not very familiar with the business, and many old employees took the initiative to help. The company also gave me ample room for growth." Chayupphon said proudly that he combined it with actual work needs The proposed "construction of production repair reporting system" was adopted by the company, and the current system development progress has reached 80%.
In January 2020, General Rubber (Thailand), a subsidiary of General Motors Co., Ltd., officially opened in the Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park. After several years of development, the company has developed a stable sales network and can produce 7.3 million sets of automobile tires every year, maintaining a good momentum of booming production and sales. Li Kai, the company's deputy general manager, said that the company's products are mainly exported to Europe and the United States, and there are also many orders in many Southeast Asian countries.
"Currently, the company has more than 1,500 Thai employees. The skills of employees hired for the first time vary. We carry out systematic and step-by-step training to enable them to quickly adapt to the working environment." Li Kai said. Nongnu, who is mainly responsible for the company's administrative and logistics operations, said: "Currently, my husband and I can receive a salary of 70,000 baht (1 yuan, approximately 4.95 baht) per month, as well as other subsidies. Working here makes me full of hope for the future. Confidence." Now, Nonnu and her husband have bought a piece of land in Bangkok and Rayong through bank loans, and the family's cars have also been upgraded.
"Currently, there are more than 50,000 employees in the park, 90% of whom are local employees. After the second phase of the park project is completed, the entire park is expected to accommodate 500 companies and create more than 100,000 jobs." Zhao Bin said.
"Injecting new vitality into Thailand's economy"
The Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park is located in the core area of Thailand's "Eastern Economic Corridor". In recent years, the Thai government has vigorously promoted the construction of the "Eastern Economic Corridor", that is, the establishment of special economic zones in the three provinces of Chaxuan Sao, Chonburi and Rayong on the eastern coast. It has vigorously developed infrastructure and implemented a series of preferential investment policies to attract high value-added enterprises. Settlement of industries, develop high-tech industries, and promote the transformation and upgrading of Thailand's economy. As the vanguard of high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road", China and Thailand are currently accelerating the construction of the China-Thailand railway and expanding cooperation in digital economy, green development, new energy and other fields.
China has been Thailand's largest trading partner for 10 consecutive years. In 2022, China-Thailand trade volume will reach US$135 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3%. In 2022, China will once again become Thailand's largest source of foreign investment. "The deepening cooperation between Thailand and China in jointly building the 'Belt and Road' has attracted more Chinese companies to participate in the construction of the 'Eastern Economic Corridor' and has also brought huge development opportunities to the Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park." Thailand-China Strategic Research Center of the National Academy of Thailand Deputy Director Tanglongkong Wusentilangu said.
"The friendly relations between Thailand and China have a long history, and the people of the two countries support each other like relatives and friends." Thai Prime Minister Saitha said that Thailand has a good business environment and hopes to cooperate with more Chinese companies to build "One Belt, One Road" projects and strengthen the two countries. trade exchanges between the two countries and promote the continuous development of bilateral relations.
Asongsi, an associate professor at the School of Economics at Thammasat University, believes that the "Eastern Economic Corridor" strategy is highly aligned with the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative. Investment, trade and technology from China are crucial to promoting Thailand's economic development and will inject into the Thai economy. New energy. Wang Liping, Minister Counselor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, said that more and more excellent Chinese companies are taking advantage of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" and taking root in Thailand, and China-Thailand economic and trade cooperation has ushered in a new period of opportunities.