Foreign media highlight Chinese premier's visit to SE Asia

Thai, Vietnamese, Singaporean and other foreign media continued to closely follow Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's ongoing Southeast Asian tour, saying it boosted trade and promoted the economic prosperity in the region.[Special coverage]

China has agreed to increase its purchase of rice and rubber from Thailand, a major growth from the nation's previous deal, the Bangkok Post reported in its story titled "Li agrees to boost rice, rubber imports."

"Good ties between Thailand and China were the main reason China had agreed to increase the rice import at the Thai government's request," it quoted Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as saying.

The newspaper also published a photo in its fornt page, showing Li' visit to Chiang Mai's "One Tambon, One Product" distribution center, accompanied by Yingluck.

The Nation, another English-language newspaper of the country, also said in a story titled "More rice for China" that Beijing has agreed to increase the amount of rice it will buy from Thailand over the next five years during Li's visit.

Thailand's Chinese-language newspaper Asia News Time covered Li's visit to "One Tambon, One Product" distribution center and the bilingual Chongfah Sinseung Wanich Bamrung School in the northern Thai city.

According to the newspaper, teachers at the school hoped that Li's visit will promote China-Thailand cultural exchange including the Chinese-language education, which, in turn, will bolster overall exchange between the two countries.

The newspaper also carried a report on Li's arrival in Vietnam after wrapping up his visit to Thailand.

Another Chinese-language newspaper of the country, the Universal Daily News, reported in its front page the launch of a long-term strategic overall planning between China and Thailand during Li's visit.

It also said in an editorial that Li's Southeast Asia tour came at a critical moment of rapid economic growth in ASEAN countries, calling Thailand "the most important destination of Li's Southeast Asia trip."

It believed that China and Thailand will enhance cooperation on high-speed railways, so that Thailand can strengthen its role as the region's transportation hub and better promote economic prosperity for the whole region.

Singaporean newspaper The Straits Times reported Li's visit to Vietnam, saying Li and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung have agreed to further the bilateral partnership in maritime and financial matters during their talks.

The Vietnam News Agency, the Associated Press and the Reuters also carried stories about Li's visit.