Chinese President Jiang Zemin said in Beijing Monday that Asia should look forward to the future and will see greater development in the new century by summing up past experience and lessons.
Jiang made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
"All things conducive to the friendship among Asian nations should be encouraged, and all things detrimental to the development among Asian countries should be avoided," Jiang said.
Asian countries, developing countries in particular, should seize the opportunities brought by new technologies and adhere to their own development path based on Asian experience and wisdom.
Jiang spoke highly of the growth of Sino-Thai relations. After recalling his meeting with Thaksin during his visit to Thailand and at the Hong Kong Fortune 500 Forum, he said that the friendly exchanges between leaders of the two countries reflect the deep friendship between the two countries.
Jiang said that during the past 26 years, since the two countries forged diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have maintained stable and healthy development no matter what changes have occurred in the international arena, making it an example of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation among nations of different social systems.
Jiang extended gratitude to Thailand for its support to China on human rights and other issues.
China is also pleased to see the upward economic growth in Thailand after the Asian financial crisis. He agreed with Thaksin on strengthening cooperation among Asian countries.
Thaksin thanked China for hosting Thai Queen Sirikit on her tour and said that the purpose of his visit is to push forward the bilateral friendly cooperation in all fields on the basis of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's Thailand visit last May.
Thailand welcomed China's development and its pending entry into the World Trade Organization and said he hopes that all Asian nations score common development through cooperation, he said.
In the meeting Jiang welcomed Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit to visit China at their convenience and said he hopes to see Thaksin again at the Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in October.
Thaksin conveyed greetings from the Thai King and Queen to Jiang.
(Xinhua News Agency 08/27/2001)
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