Thailand's Speaker of National Legislative Assembly (NLA) Meechai Ruchuphan on Sunday met with visiting Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Bai Lichen at the Thai parliament building in Bangkok.

 

Bai arrived in Thailand at the Thai government's invitation on October 31 and attended the opening ceremony of the three-month International Horticultural Exposition in Chiang Mai, north Thailand on November 1.

 

He said that with the mutual trust and beneficial cooperation better enhanced between the countries on political area, the National Committee of CPPCC is willing to deepen the exchange and cooperation with Thailand's parliament on different levels to further promote friendship and understanding between two peoples.

 

Meechai, elected as the NLA speaker on October 24, said that China is a real friend to Thailand, and that the Thai parliament has always kept good ties with the CPPCC and the National People's Congress, China's national legislature. Thailand would like to join efforts with China to put forward the Sino-Thai relations.

 

Under the interim charter, the 242-member NLA serves as the interim parliamentary body of Thailand before a new general election was held.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2006)