Kritchanon, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, criticized the Kla Tham Party for making baseless accusations by mixing unrelated issues, reaffirming that the latest Thai-China MOU signed by Minister Suriya is not connected to opening imports of poultry meat from China.
23 Jul 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Kritchanon Aiyapanya, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, addressed the case where the Kla Tham Party raised concerns that Minister Suriya Junrungreangkit’s visit to the People's Republic of China might be linked to opening imports of poultry meat from China. He affirmed that this is an attempt to connect unrelated issues without factual basis.
Mr. Kritchanon further stated, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that Thailand signed during the latest visit to China involves cooperation on protocols concerning quarantine and hygiene standards for live aquatic animals intended for export, as well as collaboration on water resource management, and does not include any provisions related to opening imports of poultry meat from China. The request to open the market for poultry meat exports from China to Thailand was officially submitted by the Chinese side on 26 January 2026 under the previous government, and is currently under review by the Department of Livestock Development with no approvals or conclusions reached yet.
“Linking the Thai-China MOU with opening imports of chicken meat from China is mixing unrelated matters and making unfounded accusations, as they are separate issues and processes. There was never any discussion or commitment regarding opening poultry meat imports during this visit,” he said.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives emphasized that the government will carefully consider all requests based on academic principles, laws, and animal health standards, prioritizing the country's interests, farmers, and the Thai livestock industry. He reaffirmed that protecting Thai farmers remains the government's highest priority and mission.