China and Thailand are strengthening cooperation in the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI), as government officials, industry experts, and business representatives from both countries gathered in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, to explore new opportunities for collaboration.
The discussions took place during the China-Thailand Digital Economy Cooperation forum, held alongside the 2026 China International Big Data Industry Expo. Participants agreed that bilateral cooperation has evolved beyond individual pilot projects into a more comprehensive partnership covering the entire digital industry value chain.
A report released at the forum showed that Thailand’s digital economy became the country’s largest investment sector in 2025, attracting approximately US$23.95 billion across 151 investment projects, making it the leading high-tech industry for investment.
Chinese investment in Thailand’s digital sector has continued to accelerate. During the first quarter of 2026, Chinese digital investment projects in Thailand increased 42% year on year, supported by a growing number of large-scale projects.
Digital trade between the two countries has also expanded rapidly. In 2025, bilateral digital trade exceeded 110 billion yuan (approximately US$16.35 billion), representing 22.3% year-on-year growth. The report noted that digital trade has become a major driver of China-Thailand economic cooperation, growing much faster than traditional merchandise trade.
According to representatives from Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI), Chinese companies have expanded their presence across multiple industries in Thailand. Between 2021 and 2025, investment growth was particularly strong in digital technologies, new energy vehicles, and advanced manufacturing.
Artificial intelligence has become another key area of cooperation. China and Thailand have jointly established several national-level AI research and development centers to promote technology innovation and industrial collaboration. One joint laboratory focuses on industrial AI, autonomous systems, smart mining, medical AI, and low-carbon intelligent technologies. The facility has completed more than 70 joint technology projects, supporting technology transfer, joint patent development, and talent cultivation.
Experts attending the forum said cooperation is now expanding into practical applications across industries. Chinese technologies are supporting Thailand’s digital transformation in areas such as electric vehicles, enterprise digitalization, factory automation, and embodied intelligence. AI solutions are also being introduced in education, healthcare, smart tourism, and smart agriculture, helping improve services for businesses and consumers.
Thailand’s Big Data Institute noted that the two countries already have a solid foundation for cooperation and that the digital economy offers significant opportunities to deepen collaboration among governments, businesses, universities, research institutions, and technology companies.
The forum was held during the 2026 China International Big Data Industry Expo, which attracted 372 domestic and international companies and more than 16,000 registered participants. The exhibition showcased the latest developments in areas including the token economy, computing power, large AI models, and data circulation technologies.
According to figures released during the expo, China’s data industry reached 6.78 trillion yuan in 2025, representing 15.7% year-on-year growth, reflecting the continued expansion of the country’s digital economy.
