Enhancing exchanges and cooperation on drug control between China and other countries is imperative and significant, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said here Tuesday.

Zhu made the remark at a meeting with Soubanh Srithirath, minister to the president's office of Laos, Tin Hlaing, minister of home affairs of Myanmar, and Thamarak Issarangkura, ministers of prime minister's office of Thailand, who are here attending the China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand Ministers' Meeting on Drug Control Cooperation.

Extending congratulations to the success of the meeting, Zhu said that China has always regarded Laos, Myanmar and Thailand as "good neighbors and good partners", adding that China attaches great importance to bilateral and multilateral cooperation with them and actively explores more cooperation in various sectors.

Zhu hoped for furthering the friendship and mutual trust as well as enhancing cooperation on drug control while joining hands to crack down on narcotics-related crimes.

"Narcotics are the common evil of the humanity," he said, noting that participation of the general public should be encouraged and legal, administrative, economic and educational measures should be introduced to address the narcotic issue. This is also the experience China has gained in its fight against narcotic-related crimes.

Zhu said that there have been frequent exchange of visits between leaders of China and Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, thus forging profound trust and friendship and promoting healthy and steady ties with the three countries.

Currently, China has deepened exchanges and cooperation with the three countries in such fields as politics, economy, culture and public health, he said, stressing that China and the three countries have supported and cooperated with each other in the international and regional affairs, thus contributing to the peace, stability and development of the region.

The three ministers, on their part, thanked the premier for the meeting. They agreed that the just-concluded ministers' meeting on drug control will promote the cooperation among the four countries on drug control and will play a positive and effective role in reinforcing the cooperation mechanism in the region.

(Xinhua News Agency 08/28/2001)