Sihasak revealed the results of discussions with Xi Jinping, achieving an agreement to establish a Thai-Chinese "2+2" security mechanism to upgrade efforts against call center gangs, human trafficking, money laundering, and transnational crime, while also requesting China’s cooperation in managing gray area businesses in Thailand.
On 20 July 2026, Mr. Sihasak Puangketkaew, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave an interview during his official visit to the People’s Republic of China alongside Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul. He stated that after paying respects and holding talks with President Xi Jinping, both sides reached an important agreement to establish a "2+2" security discussion framework. This forum will involve joint talks between the foreign and defense ministers of Thailand and China to elevate coordination on security policies, making them closer and more effective. The Chinese side expressed readiness to host the first meeting.
Mr. Sihasak said that the top priority issue Thailand raised was the urgent crackdown on scammer groups or call center gangs causing harm to people in multiple countries. Both parties agreed to enhance cooperation across all dimensions, including law enforcement, combating human trafficking, blocking money laundering channels, and intelligence sharing to improve the effectiveness of suppressing transnational criminal networks.
Mr. Sihasak added that resolving the call center gang and transnational crime problems sustainably cannot rely solely on cooperation between Thailand and China. It is necessary to integrate collaboration with neighboring countries, especially Myanmar and Cambodia, to jointly break and dismantle cross-border criminal networks in a tangible way.
Mr. Sihasak also raised the issue of gray area business groups operating in Thailand during the discussions, emphasizing the government's stance to promote only quality, sustainable investments where investors strictly comply with Thai law. Although these gray area businesses represent only a small portion of overall Chinese investment in Thailand, any legal violations inevitably affect the confidence and morale of the Thai people. Therefore, the Thai side requested that Chinese authorities pay serious attention to this problem.
“These investments in the gray area business groups may be a small portion, but when incidents occur, they create feelings among Thai people. We want China to consider the feelings of the Thai people as well,” he said.