Two cities play crucial role in opening-up

"Reducing tariffs and transaction costs for doing business can help Thai companies, especially smaller ones, increase their opportunities in China, making Chinese consumers more aware of Thailand's strengths as a 'world kitchen'."

He also expressed optimism for the Chinese market's prospects, adding that it could grow even bigger with expansion of the middle-income group, improvements to rural infrastructure, and rising living standards among the rural population.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, it now takes imported goods an average of one and a half days to complete customs clearance, down from four days in 2017.

This year, China opened up another 22 sectors and raised the level of openness for 37 sectors as it officially enacted the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world's largest trade agreement, which covers a market of 2.2 billion people.

Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce, said at a news briefing in May, "As the world's largest and fastest-growing market, China has a sound set of supporting industries, rich human capital, a fine innovation environment, and incomparable potential for domestic demand."

He said that with the nation signing more free trade agreements, and its formal application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, foreign businesses will see broader opportunities for growth.

"We hope foreign businesses can seize such opportunities and achieve greater development in China," he added.

Shi Jing in Shanghai contributed to this story.