Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told an aviation forum in Bangkok that the expansion of air traffic in China and India was contributing to the growth of the overall Asian economy.

"The expanding economic power of China and India is a key factor in Asia's dynamism .... (and) this has already impacted on the aviation industry," Surayud told the seminar, organised by airline network Star Alliance.

"It's clear that China and India's trade and traffic with the rest of Asia will help shape the future of aviation in the region," he added.

Air China and Shanghai Airlines will later this year become the newest members of Star Alliance, the largest global passenger airline network.

Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO, said they hoped the new members would bring a two-to-three percent increase on their existing 400 million yearly passengers.

Albrecht told the forum that they were also in negotiations with two other possible new members -- one from India and one from Russia.

"Like China, India is definitely a developing and growing market in Asia," he said.

Thailand's flag carrier Thai Airways International is also looking to cash in on rising air traffic, with its president Apinan Sumanaseni saying they would forge partnerships with Air China and Shanghai Airlines.

"Opportunity in the Chinese market is huge," Apinan told reporters.

The UN World Tourism Organisation said tourism in China would likely remain strong following a six percent growth in international arrivals last year.