Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak addresses the "Thailand-China Business Forum 2018" in Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 24, 2018. Chinese experiences and investment are one of the most important factors in supporting Thailand's economic development, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

BANGKOK, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese experiences and investment are one of the most important factors in supporting Thailand's economic development, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said here on Friday.

Addressing "Thailand-China Business Forum 2018" here in Bangkok, Somkid welcomes more investment from China. He also expressed thanks to Chinese enterprises, especially high-tech enterprises, which have actively invested in Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project.

According to Somkid, Chinese enterprises have invested more than 60 billion Baht (1.9 billion U.S. dollars) in this area in the past two years.

Somkid, also known as Thailand's economic Czar, said Chinese enterprises are playing a major role in helping Thailand's economic transformation and its efforts in building up a digital society.

"Thailand is rich in natural and human resources, and has a competitive business environment. The EEC will be the premier destination for Chinese investors," the deputy prime minister told the forum attended by more than 400 Chinese businessmen and entrepreneurs.

He said:"In the past 40 years, China has achieved tremendous success in urban development and eradicating poverty, Thailand can learn and follow China's successful model in its development."

Amid rising unilateralism and protectionism, China walks on its own path to advocate multilateralism and free trade and has played a leading role in global economic and social development through creating new connectivity, said Somkid.

He said China has been very successful in developing economy by accelerating infrastructure construction, digital economy and economic structural reforms. This experience will be helpful for Thailand to find its own way of development.

The EEC project is a centerpiece of the Thai government's policy to lift growth and targets high-tech investment within the 13,300-sq-km area, which embraces three Thai eastern coast provinces of Chonburi, Rayong and Chachoengsao.