"During meetings with the King of Thailand and other top leaders, I see the policy of ethnic equality and unity has been well implemented in this country," Li told a group of 1,000 people of the Thai Chinese communities at a grand banquet in his honor.
Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, was here at the invitation of the National Assembly of Thailand.
Li encouraged Thai Chinese to act as "a bridge" to promote China-Thailand cooperation. The famous saying that "Thais and Chinese are brothers" is quite relevant to the reality that with the Thai government's efforts, all ethnic groups in the kingdom, including local Chinese, now enjoy equal rights and cooperate closely, he said.
On the issue of the upcoming 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, he said that the event will ensure that China's current development path be continued and set tunes for new goals and policy priorities for the country's development in the 21st century.
"The congress is not only a major event for the whole party and entire nation of China, but also gets huge attention from overseas Chinese worldwide," he said.
He promised that China's core policy of reform and opening-up will be maintained and the country will get closer to the rest of the world as it joined the World Trade Organization (WTO).
China will also ensure the rule of law and continue to carry out socialist legislative reforms, and China will welcome foreign investment as ever, including those from overseas Chinese businessmen, in addition to improving the environment for foreign investors to protect their due interests.
He added that as a peace-loving nation, China is keen to keep good relations with its neighbors as well as all other countries in the world.
China will never be a threat to anyone, but will definitely continue to contribute to regional and global peace and development, he added.
Representatives from local Chinese communities showed overwhelming support for Li's comments on above issues.
Boonsong Srifuengfung, chairman of the Thai Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said Thai Chinese communities are benefiting from the good relations between the two nations and will continue to support and contribute to the development of bilateral ties.
The prominent local Chinese businessman also expressed the firm support of overseas Chinese for the peaceful reunification of China.
Arriving here Tuesday, Li is on an official goodwill visit to the kingdom between September 3 and September 8. He left Thailand for Indonesia Sunday afternoon. His four-nation Asia-Pacific tour will also carry him to the Philippines and Australia.
(cri.com.cn September 9, 2002)
