Mon, April 23, 2012
Jia Qinglin (L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, in Bangkok, Thailand, April 23, 2012. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
BANGKOK, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin met with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday and discussed the development of bilateral relations.
Jia conveyed sincere greetings from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Yingluck, who just wrapped up her visit to China last week. Jia said Yingluck's visit and the joint action plan the two countries settled for future strategic cooperation made the bilateral relationship stand at a new historic starting point and mapped out a broader prospect for the development of bilateral ties.
Jia said Thailand is the first among ASEAN countries to establish strategic partnership of cooperation with China. He said China was ready to make closer cooperation with Thailand, an intimate friend and reliable cooperative partner, to promote a fast growth of the bilateral ties.
He added that the two countries should make their ties play a leading role in maintaining the region's hard-won peace, stability and development. That is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, and will be conducive to peace and stability in Asia and the world.
Jia said China will keep close coordination with Thailand, who will be the coordinator between China and the ASEAN in this year, to push forward the east Asian cooperation to score greater achievements.
Yingluck thanked for Wen's greetings, saying she hoped what she saw in her China visit would help Thailand's development.
She spoke highly of the importance the Chinese side attached to the relationship with Thailand, and appreciated that the two governments lift the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.
China is an important country in Asia, whose stable development is of great importance to the whole region, she said, adding Thailand would join hands with China to further promote the China- ASEAN ties and to promote and maintain Asian countries' unity, cooperation and the region's peace and stability.
Jia also met with President of the Thai National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives Somsak Kitasuranont and Vice President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the Senate Thiradet Miphian during his stay in the Capital city. After the visit in Bangkok, Jia will also visit Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
