BANGKOK — The upcoming visit by Premier Li Keqiang will bring more development opportunities to Thailand while boosting ties between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), officials, entrepreneurs and experts in Thailand have said.

Premier Li is scheduled to pay an official visit to Thailand in early November, during which he will also attend the China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, the ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting and the East Asia Summit in the Thai capital of Bangkok.

China's development has benefited not only its own people but Thailand and other ASEAN countries as well, said Phinij Jarusombat, president of Thai-Chinese Cultural & Relationship Council and former Thai deputy prime minister.

"In many regional and global affairs today, China is an indispensable participant and contributor," Jarusombat told Xinhua.

"The cultural exchanges between Thailand and China date back (to old) times. Our cooperation in other many areas is also marching toward a higher level. I believe the upcoming visit by Premier Li Keqiang will bring new momentum to our pragmatic cooperation in various fields and bring bilateral relations to a new height," he said.

For Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, China is now a front-runner in technology, leading the world in such areas as e-commerce and the internet.

Noting that Premier Li's official visit to Thailand is the second by a Chinese premier in six years, Wichai Kinchong Choi, senior vice-president of Thai leading bank Kasikornbank, highlighted the significance of the visit to strengthening regional economic and trade cooperation and boosting multilateralism in the global economy.

"In the past six years, trade, investment and cultural exchanges between Thailand and China have grown. More and more Chinese companies are investing in Thailand and actively participating in major infrastructure projects like the Thailand-China Railway," he said.

"During Premier Li's visit, I believe the Thai government will push for the implementation of bilateral projects and the greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Thailand 4.0 policy," he added.

Noting that China and Thailand will celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, Fu Zengyou, senior adviser to the Confucius Institute of Chulalongkorn University, said the two countries enjoy a comprehensive relationship.

"The visit by Premier Li will facilitate closer cooperation on the BRI between China and Thailand, bringing bilateral cooperation to a new height," he said.