Thai-Chinese Workshop Moves Forward to Push “Chiang Saen–Guanlei” Trade Route as the Logistics Hub of the Lancang-Mekong Basin.
The Promotion and Economic Development of the Six Mekong River Basin Countries Trade Association, in collaboration with the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), organized a workshop titled “Guidelines for Promoting Trade and River Transport between Chiang Saen Commercial Port and Guanlei Port” during November 24–25, 2025, in Chiang Rai Province. The event aimed to jointly plan the development of cargo transport routes between Thailand and China via the Lancang-Mekong River to be more efficient and responsive to the new economic era.
The workshop was attended by executives from the Port Authority of Thailand, representatives from Chiang Rai government agencies, national security, customs, and Thai entrepreneurs, as well as representatives from Yunnan Communication Investment and Construction Group (YCIC Group) and Chinese logistics companies. Activities included a site visit to Chiang Saen Port, in-depth presentations, seminars, and brainstorming sessions involving real business sectors.
Key highlights of the meeting included
confirming the potential of the “Chiang Saen–Guanlei” route, which reduces transport time from Thailand to China to only 3–5 days, down from 10–12 days. The PAT is preparing to install a permanent container crane at Chiang Saen Port by January 2026 to enhance service capacity. The Chinese side revealed plans to expand Guanlei Port’s capacity from 500,000 tons to 5,000,000 tons per year and is ready to develop a One Bill of Lading system and One-stop Service. Both parties identified structural issues, regulations, taxes, and product category restrictions, offering concrete solutions. They agreed to establish a joint Thai-Chinese working group to draft a Policy Paper and prepare for a study trip to Guanlei Port in 2026.
Mr. Kriengkrai Chaisiriwongsuk, Director General of the Port Authority of Thailand, emphasized Chiang Saen Commercial Port’s readiness as a trade gateway and the commitment to pushing Thai products, especially agricultural goods and rubber, to enter the Southern China market more conveniently and rapidly.
Mr. Chutiwat Chaidarun, President of The Promotion and Economic Development of the Six Mekong River Basin Countries Trade Association, added that this meeting marks a significant first step in transforming strategic vision into tangible action plans. Both sides openly exchanged information, acknowledged problems and obstacles, and collaborated on designing solutions for the next phase.
Thai and Chinese executives agreed that this route could be developed into a “Thai-China Supply Chain Hub in the Mekong Basin,” connecting the economies of Southern China, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. In the future, it could extend to the Ranong Port route to connect with the BIMSTEC region.
This workshop is a crucial step in elevating cooperation in logistics, trade, investment, and border area development between the two countries. The Association will use the meeting results to push forward in regional forums and support the realization of concrete projects to build long-term stability, prosperity, and sustainability for the Lancang-Mekong region.
