Chinese, Thai PMs pledge to advance ties

Premier Li Keqiang and his Thai counterpart, Yingluck Shinawatra, on Tuesday pledged to advance bilateral ties and promote relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In a phone conversation with Li, Yingluck said her country sticks to a friendly policy toward China, and is willing to coordinate with Beijing to enhance high-level exchanges, deepen bilateral communication and cooperation, and consolidate friendly feelings between the two peoples.

Thailand, she added, will play an active role in promoting relations between ASEAN and China.

For his part, Li said China and Thailand are like a family, enjoying solid political mutual trust and valuable mutual support on issues involving each other's major concerns.

With bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade and economy growing rapidly on a solid foundation, the two nations are trustworthy friends and close partners, Li said.

The new Chinese government, he added, will work with Thailand to imbue the over 1,000-year-old traditional friendship between the two countries with perpetual vigor and vitality.

Noting that Thailand is one of ASEAN's founding countries, Li voiced the hope that Thailand will work with China to constructively safeguard the development of China-ASEAN relations.

Cooperation in this regard is important to the peace, development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, added the premier.