Chinese and Thai premiers meet to strengthen bilateral cooperation

Written by Writer on Friday, October 24th, 2008

Chinese and Thai premiers meet to strengthen bilateral cooperation

BEIJING, Oct 24 (Xinhua/TNA) — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here on Friday morning with Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat who is here to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held on Oct. 24 to 25.

Wen said China is willing to maintain high-level contacts with Thailand to solidify Sino-Thai good neighborly friendship and promote strategic cooperation in terms of economy and trade, personnel and cultural exchanges, as well as regional and international affairs.

The Chinese government will actively promote bilateral trade growth and give support to Chinese enterprises to take part in infrastructure building in Thailand, he said.

He hoped the two sides could set up cultural centers mutually at an early date and enhance exchanges between young peoples.

China is willing to cooperate with Thailand in hosting a series of East Asia meetings in Bangkok at the year-end and push forward cooperation in East Asia.

Wen said since China and Thailand established diplomatic relations 33 years ago, the two sides have respected and helped each other to strive for further development.

He expressed the hope that Thailand could maintain stability, harmony and economic development.

Somchai said during the meeting that the two peoples have been engaged in friendly contacts and the two countries have conducted mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.

Thailand hoped China could sustain development, which was significant for both Thailand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he said, adding that Thailand is willing to further exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields.

Established as a high-level forum between governments of Asia and Europe, the ASEM this year is expected to focus on how to respond to the current global financial crisis.

Launched in 1996 as an informal dialogue mechanism, the biennial ASEM now includes 45 members, representing more than 50 percent of the world’s gross domestic product. (Xinhua/TNA)