Prime Minister Anusit Chanyawimol and Deputy Interior Minister presided over the opening of the Thailand–China (Sichuan) Investment and Economic Forum 2026 on July 18 at Tianfu International Convention Center in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. The event also marked the official launch of the BOI Chengdu Office, attended by Sichuan provincial officials, senior executives from both countries, investors, and Thai-Chinese private sector representatives.

The PM expressed gratitude to the Chinese government, Sichuan provincial authorities, and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Sichuan branch) for supporting the forum and BOI office opening. He noted that Sichuan, with 80 million people and China's sixth-largest economy, is a major economic and industrial hub. Thailand, he said, offers competitive advantages including its position as ASEAN's geographical center, quality infrastructure, strong supply chains, skilled workforce, and clean energy resources.

The government is pursuing a three-dimensional economic development strategy: accelerating business approvals through the Thailand FastPass program (which has already facilitated over 750 billion baht in investment), upgrading Thai entrepreneurs and personnel through BOI competitiveness funds and skill-bridge programs, and strengthening the domestic economy through short-term stimulus measures and structural reforms in energy and digital sectors. These efforts have earned recognition from Moody's and S&P Global Ratings, which upgraded Thailand's creditworthiness outlook, while Thailand's IMD competitiveness ranking continues to rise.

The PM highlighted the significant trade potential between Sichuan and Thailand through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle initiative, positioning Thailand as a central hub linking China's western regions with South Asia, Central Asia, and ASEAN.

Prime Minister Anutin Anutin Chaiyawongse led an economic mission to Chengdu to open a Thai-China investment forum and conduct one-on-one negotiations with six major corporations in technology, automotive, and tourism sectors to attract investment into Thailand.

Reporting from the People's Republic of China, Prime Minister Anutin Chaiyawongse and the Minister of Interior, accompanied by a high-level Thai government delegation, are on an official visit to China from July 16-20, 2025. On July 18, the Prime Minister led the delegation from Shanghai to Chengdu, Sichuan Province, to advance full-scale economic, technology, and tourism cooperation. The delegation participated in the "Prime Minister-Thai Private Sector Luncheon" to exchange perspectives with Thailand's leading business representatives and hear recommendations for penetrating the Chinese market.

A total of 48 Thai companies with 153 representatives attended the business negotiations in Chengdu, combining both those already conducting joint ventures with Chinese investors and those seeking new business partnerships. One hundred ten business leaders participated in the luncheon with the Prime Minister.

Eleven prominent business executives dined at the PM's table, including Pimjai Lee Isisaranukul, President of the Federation of Thai Industries; Norungsak Putthaprommonkol, President of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce; Viboon Suphakropongkul, Vice President of the Thai Chamber of Commerce; Surachai Jiaranon, Senior Vice President of Charoen Pokphand Group; Saravuth Yuvittaya, CEO of TCP Business Group; Supralaks Ampuch, Chairman of The Mall Group; Vikrom Kromditsathit, CEO of AMATA; Vichai Kulsomsap, CEO and Chairman of Sahapattana Group; Yothin Damnanchaivanit, President of Industrial Park 304; Chaya Chantavasu, Senior Vice President of PTT; and Manoo Chotetewanya, Chairman of Sahafarm.

The Prime Minister will use this opportunity to gather feedback and recommendations from Thailand's private sector to discuss with the Chinese government. A meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang is scheduled for July 20. The Board of Investment (BOI) office in Chengdu was officially opened during the visit to serve as a link connecting Chinese investors to Thailand, signaling the Thai government's commitment to deepening trade and investment relations with China at the regional level.

Sichuan Province is strategically important as China's sixth-largest economy with a population of over 80 million, with economic potential comparable to Thailand. Thailand and China have emphasized connectivity through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Chengdu-Chongqing economic corridor, which will position the region as a crucial connection point between western China, South Asia, and ASEAN, with Thailand serving as the region's primary gateway.

The Prime Minister revealed that last year, the value of investment promotion applications from Chinese entrepreneurs reached a record 380,000 million yuan, equivalent to an economic stimulus of over 1 trillion baht, a 67% increase from the previous year. Trade between Thailand and Sichuan in 2025 expanded by 112%, reflecting investor confidence in Thailand's infrastructure, clean energy, and strong supply chains.

San Camillo Hospital Ban Po has suspended the attending physician and established a fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding a patient's death. The hospital expressed deep condolences and sent support to the family, acknowledging public concerns about the incident. Hospital management appointed a committee of relevant experts to thoroughly and fairly review all medical data and treatment procedures. To ensure transparency and impartiality, the hospital has ordered the treating physician to remain suspended until the investigation is complete. The hospital stated it is committed to conducting a transparent and fair examination of the incident and pledged to improve treatment quality according to medical ethics and professional standards with patient safety as the priority. Meanwhile, teacher Suray shared a final photo of her husband who had just picked up their child from school before his death, expressing grief and frustration in a caption questioning why the doctor did not perform an examination when it could have made a difference.

Icon Siam, a world-class landmark on the Chao Phraya River, is partnering with KHUNPARE COLLECTION to present the Neo Land Festival 2026—an art exhibition featuring painted sculptures called NEO Art Toys inspired by the elephant, a symbol of Thai identity. The works reinterpret this icon through contemporary perspectives of Thailand's diverse artists, inviting audiences to experience creativity and artistic identity in a fresh format.

The exhibition comprises 49 artworks by 33 acclaimed Thai artists spanning contemporary Thai art, pop art, doodle art, surrealism, and other modern genres. Each artist conveys stories, experiences, beliefs, and imagination on neo sculptures using distinctive techniques to create unique original works.

"Neo" is a dimensional art canvas representing "rebirth," reflecting how artworks transform when placed in an artist's hands. Rather than being predefined, neo serves as a starting point for imagination that is constantly reborn. Through its distinctive and singular works, neo is not merely an elephant character or art symbol—it is a space of creative freedom where artists can fully unleash imagination and creative potential without limits on canvas and dimensional surfaces. Every artwork in the exhibition is handcrafted by artists using varied techniques including oil paint, acrylic, spray paint, colored lines, and markers, becoming a space for new ideas and endless artistic interpretation.

Among the exhibition's highlights is "Horse of Dawn," a 170-centimeter-tall art toy by Indy Nine (Chanok Nanth Khwan Muni), which conveys the human condition in the modern world facing expectations, power, and spiritual seeking through the symbol of a golden horse representing freedom and wisdom. Set against intense red tones, delicate flowers hint at hidden gentleness within the human heart.

Another notable work is "Flash Space" by Uang Angyakorn Mun Phonlasri, a doodle-art-style piece blending cars, speed, space, and infinite imagination with vibrant colors expressing maximum playfulness and bold thinking outside convention. Her "Doodle Flow" conveys simple yet powerful lines in doodle style, while "Love of the Forest 01: My Sleeping Forest Summer" tells of nature's resurgence. "TAMU's Land" reflects ideas of sustainability and clean energy, and "Rhythm of Love" draws inspiration from Ganesh as the origin of art and creation.

The exhibition also includes "Low Fat" by Norngchai Oon Jai, a surrealist work peeling away neo's outer "shell" or patterns to reveal inner muscle and skeletal structure, signifying the "common foundation" hidden beneath diverse differences. The work humorously takes its name from the artist's personal experience with weight management.

Other notable works in the exhibition include Monster Parade, NEO 2050, Ruby Ganesha, NINJA Ganesha, and Night Dr.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi revealed that bilateral negotiations with three senior U.S. officials—Susie Wiles (White House Domestic Policy Advisor), Howard Lutnick (U.S. Commerce Secretary), and Rick Switzer (Deputy U.S. Trade Representative)—took place on July 15–16, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The primary goal was to accelerate the Thailand-U.S. Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) and track Section 301 investigation results while strengthening economic and investment ties.

Supachai stated that discussions proceeded positively and reaffirmed Thailand's standing as a dependable U.S. ally in Southeast Asia. Thailand has shown full flexibility toward American demands within legal and policy constraints. The U.S. side thanked Thailand for its commitment to speed up negotiations and praised efforts to balance trade. However, the U.S. needs additional time to review Thai proposals to narrow gaps and align expectations, with further talks to follow soon.

Thailand remains committed to protecting national interests using investment and increased U.S. imports as leverage under the Joint Statement agreed in July 2024, aimed at reducing the bilateral trade deficit. Supachai emphasized that each country has different contexts and negotiating readiness, different legal frameworks and policies, so success cannot be judged by a single standard but by the overall final outcome serving mutual benefit.

Supachai also discussed Section 301 investigations, under which Thailand currently faces two cases: structural excess capacity and lack of measures prohibiting imports of goods made with forced labor. The U.S. uses this as a tool to drive tariff measures following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that the president's emergency tariffs under IEEPA were unlawful. The U.S. is reviewing final investigation results, provisionally setting 12.5% tariffs for 46 countries without forced labor import bans and 10–14% for 14 others.

On July 6, 2025, Pol. Maj. Gen. Chaturphat Phiromkaew, commander of the International Affairs Division and deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, disclosed three cannabis smuggling cases being sent from Thailand to foreign countries. These included Hong Kong customs seizing approximately 23 kilograms of dried cannabis with two suspects—a Chinese national and Hong Kong resident who traveled from Thailand; Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency dismantling a smuggling network with Malaysian and Chinese suspects, recovering 3.37 tons of high-quality cannabis from Thailand; and Poland intercepting 1.2 tons of cannabis hidden in bricks within shipping containers exported from Thailand, with eight arrests made.

The Royal Thai Police emphasized that carrying, smuggling, or transporting cannabis, cannabis flowers, or cannabis-infused products out of Thailand is illegal under multiple laws, carrying penalties including up to 10 years imprisonment under customs law, up to one year imprisonment under Traditional Thai Medicine laws, and equivalent sentences under the 2568 Public Health Ministry announcement. Many destination countries classify cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug with severe penalties ranging from life imprisonment to capital punishment.

The police advised travelers to refuse parcels from strangers, thoroughly inspect their own luggage for any cannabis-containing products before departure, and absolutely decline work as couriers transporting items abroad. The Royal Thai Police warned that international criminal networks may exploit, threaten, or harm citizens to protect their smuggling operations, and urged public cooperation in reporting suspicious behavior to prevent transnational drug trafficking.