Thailand’s Foreign Minister is scheduled to pay an official visit to China to foster strategic ties and promote trade cooperation between the two countries from July 1-5.

Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul is making the five-day visit is at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi.

Surapong is set to pay courtesy calls to Chinese leaders and hold bilateral talks with Jiechi and his delegates. He will then meet importers of Thai fruit in Guangzhou city of Guangdong province to discuss ways to enhance export opportunities in China.

In the province, the minister will meet with the Guangdong governor for talks aimed at reinforcing their newly forged strategic partnership on a joint high-speed railway project, water management, and clean energy; agreed to during Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s visit to China in April.

Following PM Yingluck’s visit, Thailand and China aim to increase their trade and investment value by at least 15 percent within five years and to boost bilateral ties at all levels. Currently, China is Thailand ’s largest export market and its second largest import source./.