Thailand’s Paetongtarn Shinawatra in China, with trade, railway, scam farms on the table

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has arrived in China for a four-day visit as the two sides look to crack down on telecoms scam farms in Southeast Asia, and with trade, technology and infrastructure expected to top the agenda.

Thailand, a long-time US ally, is also a crucial regional partner for Beijing in light of its fierce rivalry with Washington.

Paetongtarn arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for what is her first visit to China since taking office in August.

Accompanying her are four deputy prime ministers – in charge of transport, internal affairs, finance and digital economy, respectively.

Ministers overseeing foreign policy, tourism and agriculture are also part of the Thai delegation.

Thai media reports ahead of Paetongtarn’s visit said she would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in a bid to curb negative public perceptions about tourism safety in the kingdom, after several Chinese nationals were trafficked into Myanmar via Thailand to work at cyber scam farms there.