The Chinese Ministry of Commerce jointly held the China-Thailand Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum and Luncheon Party with the Investment Promotion Committee of Thailand in Bangkok on December 19 on the sidelines of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Thailand for the fifth summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation. Chinese Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula attended the meeting and made keynote speeches.

 

The forum was aimed at implementing the consensus reached by leaders of both countries on deepening trade and economic cooperation between China and Thailand so as to encourage enterprises of the two countries to cooperate in such fields as the construction of railways and trade in agricultural products. More than 100 people such as the Thai minister of industry, the secretary-general of the Thai Investment Promotion Committee and principals from business circles, chambers of commerce and associations of both countries attended the meeting.

 

Gao said that at present, China-Thailand trade and economic cooperation has entered a new stage of comprehensive development. China is Thailand’s largest trade partner, export market and tourist source. Both sides are important investment destinations to each other. Last year, when visiting Southeast Asia, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the significant strategic conception of building the Maritime Silk Road of the 21th Century, which has won enthusiastic responses from neighboring countries including Thailand and provided broad space for deepening bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Recently, leaders of the two countries have had several meetings and promoted positive progress in the construction of a China-Thailand railway, trade in agricultural products, water conservation, mining industry and agriculture. Last month, the Thai deputy prime minister and Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong jointly presided over the third meeting of the China-Thailand Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing and comprehensively combed and planned the two countries’ cooperation in relevant fields.

 

Gao suggested that at present, both China and Thailand are in a critical period of economic development and should work together to build the Maritime Silk Road of the 21th Century, actively implement the consensus of leaders of the two nations and the results of the third meeting of the China-Thailand Joint Committee on Trade and EconomicCooperation, accelerate the construction of interconnectivity, strengthen the practical cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, finance, energy, quality testing, information communication and spaceflight, enhance international and regional cooperation and further push forward close communication and cooperation between the business circles of the tow countries.

 

The Thai deputy prime minister said that Thailand and China have a long history of friendly exchanges and both sides have continuously achieved positive progress in communication and cooperation in such fields as politics, trade and economy and culture. In recent years, bilateral trade has constantly maintained stable development with remarkable achievements in two-way tourism cooperation. Thailand is located in the center of Southeast Asia and enjoys unique geographical and resource advantages in conducting international economic cooperation. Products can be conveniently sold to Southeast Asia and other regions in the world if Thailand is regarded as the production base. China and Thailand are highly complementary economically and Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest in Thailand so as to promote the development of Thai industry and jointly enhance competitiveness. China is advanced in processing of agricultural products such as rubber and Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest in tyre production in Thailand and regard Thailand as their production base of rubber products.

 

SEOUL Dec 16 (Reuters) - South Korean tyre maker Hankook Tire is considering partnering with private equity firm Hahn & Company to jointly bid for Halla Visteon Climate Control Corp, an official at Hankook Tire told Reuters, without elaborating.

 

Korea Economic Daily reported that Hahn & Company was in final talks to attract Hankook Tire as a strategic investor for the deal, citing unidentified banking and industry officials.

But the backing that his coalition, which controls 155 deputies, collects will be closely watched as a sign of momentum for or against it, before a final, decisive vote on Dec. 29. The super majority required for victory falls then to 180.

 

"The bounce today is Athens is just a sign that last week's sell-off has exhausted itself. We will not know the full situation in Greece until later this month," said Francois Savary, chief investment officer at Swiss bank Reyl