By Prashanth Parameswaran
With a post-coup cooling of relations with the West, Bangkok is looking to its largest trading partner.
Thailand’s ruling junta is boosting ties with China as it seeks to reverse sluggish growth in Southeast Asia’s second largest economy following a coup earlier this year that complicated its ties with the West.
On Friday, Thailand welcomed Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the most prominent foreign leader to visit the country since the military seized power on May 22. Li was to attend a two-day regional summit on the Mekong river being held in Bangkok.
Thai government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said Li’s visit and meetings would be “a good opportunity for Thailand to show that our political problems are not an obstacle to trade,” highlighting that “the situation here is normal now and we are working toward a new Thai democracy.”
Though the military has succeeded in stabilizing Thailand’s economy somewhat since coming to power, economic growth has been weak thus far and these woes could extend into 2015 if troubling trends like anemic domestic consumption and private investment continue. With the U.S cutting off military assistance to Thailand, and Europe suspending trade negotiations following the coup, the government has made strengthening ties with China – already Thailand’s largest trading partner – a top priority.
Read the full story at The Diplomat