Thailand and China stand poised to deepen their military ties, particularly in training, weapons, and the procurement of submarines, authorities say.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan who also serves as Defence Minister, and Gen Chang Wanquan, China's Defence Minister and a general in the People's Liberation Army, will meet in China this week, according to Maj Gen Kongcheep Tantrawanit, the defence ministry's spokesman.
Gen Prawit will be accompanied by a team of military officers and authorities at the two-day meeting, starting on Wednesday, the spokesman said.
Gen Prawit accepted the invitation to pay an official visit to China to observe its military affairs after Gen Chang made a courtesy call on Gen Prawit in January. It will be Gen's Prawit's second visit to China, after he visited last year.
High-ranking military officers who will join the trip include Deputy Defence Minister and army chief Udomdej Sitabutr, defence permanent secretary Gen Sirichai Ditthakul, Supreme Commander Gen Woraphong Sa-nganet, navy chief Adm Kraisorn Jansuwanit, and Air Chief Marshal Threetod Sonjaeng.
Government officials who will join the trip include the deputy foreign minister and agriculture and cooperatives deputy minister.
The Thai delegation will observe a range of weapons in China but no details were given of where the weapons are exhibited.
Thailand will also discuss an agreement to purchase weapons from China, and forge closer collaboration in military exercises. The number of military exercises between officers from the two countries would be increased, according to a source. Military officers from Thailand and China engage in a military exercise every two years.
Procurement of submarines is also on the agenda. The Thai navy plans to purchase two submarines worth 36,000 million baht in total from China, according to the source.