Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan met in Beijing Thursday with Supreme Commander of Royal Thai Armed Forces Boonsrang Niumpradit, who is on a week-long visit to China.

China and Thailand have a long history of friendly exchanges, said Cao, who is also a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and state councilor.

Sino-Thai friendship has seen unprecedented development in recent years and the bilateral cooperation has benefited people of two countries and helped to maintain regional peace, stability and development, he said.

China will work with Thailand in expanding cooperation, strengthening exchanges and pushing forward friendly relations between the two countries and militaries, Cao said.

Boonsrang said Thailand-China relations have developed smoothly with fruitful cooperation, and the frequent exchange of visits are helpful to bilateral ties.

He hoped the relations would development continuously, which is a wish of Thai government, armed forces and people.

Boonstrang also held talks with Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Liang Guanglie on Thursday. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and other issues of common concern.

He reiterated Thailand's firm adherence to the one-China policy.

Besides Beijing, Boonstrang will visit Jinan in east China, Yichang in central China and Chengdu in southwest China.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2007)