Anutin, Xi to meet in Shanghai

Border security with Cambodia on agenda

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shanghai on Friday during his visit to China, with Thai-Cambodian border security expected to be high on the agenda.

While the official purpose of Mr Anutin's July 16-20 visit is to attend the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 in Shanghai and inaugurate a new overseas office of the Board of Investment (BOI) in Chengdu, Beijing has also arranged meetings with President Xi and Premier Li Qiang.

Mr Anutin said President Xi would receive him and his delegation in Shanghai on Friday, providing an opportunity to review progress on bilateral cooperation over the past year, including trade, investment and security.

The prime minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Premier Li before the two leaders meet again at upcoming international gatherings, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summits.

็However, the recent border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are also expected to be raised during the discussions.

Mr Anutin admitted that the talks would cover sensitive issues, including security, efforts to combat transnational crime and corruption, as well as economic cooperation. However, he declined to elaborate, saying such matters should be discussed privately between the two governments.

"China is a great friend that has supported Thailand every time, whether we ask for support or not," Mr Anutin said.

Asked whether he would discuss reports of Chinese arms supplies to Cambodia, Mr Anutin declined to comment.

"As for security matters, I cannot discuss them publicly," he said.

Before departing for China on Thursday, the prime minister held talks with Thailand's military chiefs to review national defence and sovereignty protection plans, as well as the armed forces' readiness to support the government's security operations.

Asked what if China proposed to act as a mediator between Thailand and Cambodia, Mr Anutin said, "We are not opposed."

The prime minister said Thailand and China had long enjoyed a close and mutually supportive relationship, and that the talks would cover a wide range of issues of mutual interest.

He said the agenda would also include pollution in the Kok River, which requires cooperation with Myanmar because the contamination originates upstream.

He also added China's defence minister was scheduled to visit Thailand next week, allowing security discussions between the two countries to continue.

The leaders' meetings come at a time when China's ties with Thailand are facing growing public scrutiny. Reports of Chinese arms deliveries to Cambodia, despite Beijing's insistence they are part of previously agreed contracts, have fuelled questions in Thailand over China's neutrality amid border tensions with Cambodia.

The issue has coincided with broader public unease over a series of crimes involving Chinese nationals and transnational criminal networks operating in Thailand, further complicating ties.