Prime Minister Anuthon Charnveerakul presided over the opening and keynote address at the Thailand–China Cooperation Expo 2026 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, joined by a coordination mechanism for sustainable Thai-Chinese business partnership involving three key organizations: the Thai Chamber of Commerce led by Pojn Aramwattananon, the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce headed by Narongsakdi Butthapornmongkol, and the Association of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Thailand led by Liu Chewian Lay. High-level officials and partners including Chinese Acting Chargé d'Affaires Wu Zhiou and IMPACT CEO Paul Kanchanapassorn attended alongside government and business representatives.

Prime Minister Anuthon stated the expo occurs at a critical moment in bilateral relations, with both nations needing to review strategies and set cooperative directions for mutual benefit. He noted Thailand and China share deep-rooted relations spanning generations, celebrated 50 years of diplomatic ties last year, and are now embarking on the next fifty years under a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. He emphasized the government's focus on foreign direct investment (FDI), infrastructure development, and business facilitation through the Thailand FastPass program, which has unlocked over 700 billion baht in investments, while expressing confidence that Thai-Chinese cooperation will bring prosperity to both nations and benefit ASEAN broadly.

Acting Chinese Ambassador Wu Zhiou called this year the beginning of a "golden fifty-year chapter" for China-Thailand relations, reaffirming China's priority commitment to developing ties with Thailand as a trusted strategic partner. He outlined three key expectations for the expo: serving as an effective communication platform between government and private sectors, deepening industrial cooperation through domestic procurement, R&D, and joint human resource development especially for Thai SMEs, and strengthening people-to-people bonds between the two nations.

Pojn Aramwattananon, chair of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and speaking for the Thai-Chinese business coordination mechanism, noted the inaugural expo last year was well-received and successfully created trade, investment, and networking opportunities between Thailand and China. This second edition aims to further elevate economic cooperation between the two countries.

AIS President and Chief Executive Officer Prathana Leelaphanang announced the landmark partnership with UC3 to become the sole official broadcaster of men's European club football competitions in Thailand. The deal covers five UEFA competitions—Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, Super Cup, and Youth League—across Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia for four seasons from 2027/28 to 2030/31, with all matches available live, with highlights, and in replay on AIS PLAY.

"I am proud that we can deliver the greatest European club football competitions to AIS customers and Thai football fans," Prathana said, noting that these tournaments attract massive Thai viewership because they feature top clubs and superstar players from Europe's elite leagues including the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 competing for continental supremacy.

The strategic partnership between AIS and UC3, in coordination with UEFA and the European Football Clubs association representing over 800 top clubs, integrates with AIS PLAY, Thailand's leading digital sports content hub. Combined with other world-class sports rights already held by AIS PLAY, the deal reinforces the platform's position as the premier destination for premium sports entertainment across the week. AIS PLAY is the exclusive channel carrying all content from these five competitions, with full technical infrastructure in place to support the four-year broadcast agreement.

BAM, the Asset Management Company of Bangkok Bank, announced it has acquired nonperforming loans exceeding 10 billion baht in the first half of 2025 from six major Thai financial institutions, including an exclusive large lot purchase from Bangkok Bank (SCB). This acquisition underscores BAM's financial strength and position as Thailand's top AMC and marks a significant step in expanding its asset portfolio.

The company is introducing a Cost Plus debt restructuring model to its existing portfolio, focusing on tailoring debt structures to match each debtor's financial capacity to help them return to financial stability more quickly. BAM expects the investment portfolio to generate returns exceeding 15% this year, supporting the company's growth targets.

In the second half of 2025, BAM will continue its aggressive investment strategy and is currently negotiating three additional major nonperforming loan deals worth approximately 5 billion baht. The company views these investments not merely as portfolio expansion but as converting dormant assets back into value-creating instruments. BAM's debt management approach prioritizes finding appropriate solutions for individual debtors to enable sustainable financial recovery, which the company believes will generate both economic value and strong returns.

A 28-year-old woman from Buriram province has been bedridden for over ten months following a cesarean delivery complication that occurred just 24 hours after surgery. She remains on a ventilator with a tracheostomy, unable to speak or move her limbs, and can only blink her eyes in response. On July 22, her 29-year-old husband stated he has continuously visited and never abandoned her, explaining his absence was due to stomach pain that has since improved. He pledged to bring her home once she recovers. His mother, 50, corroborated that the family regularly visits, buys supplies, and has prepared a small house for the patient's eventual return home. However, the patient's 50-year-old aunt disputed the husband's account, saying he has never visited or even called, though she acknowledged the mother-in-law's visits are genuine. The aunt clarified her criticism was directed at the husband alone and expressed no anger at anyone, having only stated facts when asked.

Bangkok, 22 July 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), together with the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) and Guangdong Grandeur International Exhibition Group, today announced the World Travel & Culture Expo 2026 (WTCE 2026), scheduled to take place from 29–31 October at IMPACT Mueang Thong Thani. The event aims to drive tourism, trade and investment while reinforcing Thailand’s role as an ASEAN hub for tourism and entertainment.

Presiding over the launch, Mr. Pasakorn Rangsiwatanasak, Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Sports, said, “WTCE 2026 demonstrates Thailand’s commitment to harnessing tourism, culture, sport, entertainment and creative industries as engines of economic growth. The event will stimulate investment, deepen international cooperation and strengthen Thailand’s position as a gateway connecting ASEAN with global markets.”

Joining the launch were Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor; Lieutenant Anek Nurak, Committee Member of the TCT; Mr. Wang Zhaoyun, CEO of Grandeur Exhibition Group; Police Major General Pongsiam Meekanthong, Deputy Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau; TAT executives; and representatives of partner organisations.

WTCE 2026 reflects the Thai-Chinese partnership behind the event and builds on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China. It also aligns with China’s “Thousands of Sails Go to Sea” policy encouraging Chinese enterprises to expand internationally into Thailand, China and ASEAN for tourism, business and investment cooperation.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, “TAT’s Value over Volume direction, supported by Healing is the New Luxury campaign, places meaningful experiences, sustainability and quality tourism income at the centre of tourism development. WTCE 2026 advances this direction by connecting tourism with culture, sport, and the creative industries, while opening new channels for investment, knowledge exchange, and business cooperation. As an official partner, TAT will promote international participation and help connect Thai businesses with investors, technology providers and creative-industry partners across regional and global markets.”

WTCE 2026 builds on the 2025 edition, which featured 300 exhibition booths showcasing leading global brands from 23 countries, welcomed participants from 36 countries and achieved a 98 per cent success rate in business negotiations and partnerships, according to the organisers.

Held under the theme “Smartly Link the World”, the 2026 expo will unite culture, innovation and commercial opportunity. The expo will feature five specialised expositions:

The Thailand Amusement and Attraction Parks Expo (TAAPE) will focus on amusement and water parks, family entertainment and safety standards.

The Thailand (Bangkok) Billiards Expo (TBE) will showcase billiards, snooker and indoor leisure sports.

The ASEAN LED Display, Prolight, Sound and Entertainment Technology Expo (ASE) will present LED displays, professional lighting, sound systems and entertainment technologies.

The Asia Film, Television and Equipment Technology Expo (APE) will cover production equipment, virtual production, extended reality and intellectual-property licensing.

The ASEAN Global IP Expo will expand business opportunities across the intellectual property (IP) and the creative industries.

The launch also featured a “Future Trends of Tourism” panel discussion with Lieutenant Anek Nurak; Mr. Jeerayu Jarukittivorakan, TCT Secretary-General and a member of the TAT Board of Directors; Ms. Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Asia and South Pacific; and Police Major General Pongsiam Meekanthong. The session addressed tourism safety, sustainability and visitor experience, with an emphasis on risk management, environmentally responsible practices and immersive technologies.

China remains Thailand’s leading international visitor market. From 1 January to 20 July 2026, Thailand recorded 2,877,039 arrivals from China, up 14.76 per cent year-on-year. TAT forecasts more than 5.13 million Chinese visitors and at least 288.385 billion Baht in tourism revenue in 2026. WTCE 2026 will provide a strategic platform to convert this market strength into broader tourism, investment and business partnerships across the region.

The post Bangkok to host World Travel & Culture Expo 2026 in October appeared first on TAT Newsroom.

On July 12, 2025, Hai Ti Lao Thailand unveiled a new brand film that tells the story of a modern family where each member lives at their own pace—caught up in work, social gatherings, or social media—rarely finding time together. The film cleverly uses familiar hotpot elements—chopsticks, ladles, and soft noodles—to convey its heartwarming and humorous narrative, symbolically "scooping" busy family members back to the dinner table.

The film opens with the mother enjoying time with friends when giant chopsticks suddenly appear on screen and whisk her away. It then shifts to the father absorbed in work, caught by a giant ladle that lifts him from his desk. Next, a child livestreaming on a phone is swept away from their social media world by the ladle. The tone shifts when we meet grandmother, who has no work, social obligations, or online distractions—only her quiet routine at home. As a long soft noodle appears and gently pulls her along, it brings all family members back together around the hotpot table.

The film's message is that despite everyone's hectic lives, the simple act of sitting down to eat, talk, and spend time together as a family holds deep meaning and joy. The oversized utensils serve not just as visual metaphors but as symbols of bringing loved ones back to each other's side. Around a table filled with delicious food and Hai Ti Lao's signature soft noodles and distinctive puppet performances, the family members gradually set aside their busy lives and reconnect, creating a warm and joyful moment of togetherness.