China's Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak expressed their satisfaction with bilateral ties on Sunday, calling for deepening friendship and wider cooperation between the two countries.
The pair met shortly after Somkid arrived in Beijing for a five-day visit at the invitation of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).
Wen, noting friendly cooperative ties between China and Thailand had a long history, proposed that people from various circles in both countries should exchange visits "like relatives."
The good ties between the two not only existed in politics but also in the arena of economic cooperation and trade, Wen said.
Trade between China and Thailand has increased sharply, hitting US$7 billion last year, an increase of 6 percent year on year. During the first half of this year, bilateral trade increased by 12 percent compared with the same period last year.
Wen noted that China and Thailand had signed an agreement on currency exchange, facilitating bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Mutual investment had grown markedly, Wen said. The previous trend was for Thai investment in China which had reached US$5 billion. But recently a number of Chinese businesses had begun to invest in Thailand to the tune of US$200 million.
Somkid congratulated China on its robust economic growth. It was not only good news for the Chinese people but also for Asian people because the steady expansion of China's economy benefited Asia as a whole.
The Thai vice-premier said both he and the Thai government were interested in China's Western Development drive, adding that some members of his delegation would visit west China to seek business opportunities.
He also informed Wen that Thailand would donate food such as rice to some flood-stricken areas in China. Wen expressed his gratitude, saying that the donation not only showed that Thailand valued its ties with China, but also demonstrated the Thai people's deep feelings towards Chinese people.
Wen and Somkid also exchanged views on the China-ASEAN free trade zone, economic cooperation and tourism. Both expressed confidence in that bilateral ties would reach new heights in the new century.
( July 15, 2002)
