Anutin discussed with Kazakhstan's President, emphasizing Thailand's readiness to be the gateway to ASEAN and supporting flight route expansion to open economic borders toward Central Asia.
On 17 July 2026, at the Shanghai World Reception Hall conference center in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul held bilateral talks with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, during his official visit to China.
Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed key points of the discussion: the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan's President for the invitation to an official visit to Kazakhstan in 2027, marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and took the opportunity to invite the Kazakh President to visit Thailand officially as well.
Anutin emphasized that Kazakhstan is Thailand's largest trading partner in Central Asia, and Thailand is ready to serve as the gateway to the ASEAN market. Both leaders agreed to expand cooperation in high-potential industries such as health tourism, medicine, food security, artificial intelligence (AI), energy, and rare minerals.
Additionally, the Prime Minister thanked Kazakhstan for supporting Thailand's initiative to negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA) between Thailand and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). He also praised Kazakhstan's development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which facilitates regional trade, and reaffirmed Kazakhstan's potential as a gateway to Central Asia and Europe for Thailand.
Regarding people-to-people connectivity, both countries agreed to support the opening and expansion of new flight routes to boost tourism. Thailand remains a popular destination for Kazakh citizens, while Thai interest in traveling to Kazakhstan is steadily increasing. Finally, both sides are prepared to cooperate multilaterally to address global issues such as climate change and joint water resource management.