Chinese, Thai FMs Meet in Singapore
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and his Thai counterpart Surin Pitsuwan Sunday discussed bilateral relations and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
China attaches much importance to the role of Thailand, an important member of ASEAN and who will hold the chairmanship of the next ARF, in the regional grouping, Tang said.
China firmly supports ASEAN's lead role in the ARF and hopes that the forum will maintain its efficient functional style and stick to its nature as a political and diplomatic forum, said Tang.
Tang emphasized that China attaches great importance to President Jiang Zemin's coming state visit to Thailand.
China hopes that the visit will push Sino-Thai relations onto a new level and lay a solid foundation for the development of all-round friendly and long-term cooperation between the two countries in the new century, said Tang.
He said China will make joint efforts with Thailand to ensure the visit, which will have profound significance in the history of Sino-Thai relations, a successful and fruitful one.
Surin said the Thai leaders and people are eagerly looking forward to President Jiang's visit. The visit will become a milestone in the two countries' ties, he said.
The development of a unique, fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship between Thailand and China is not only in keeping with the interests of the two nations, but also the region as a whole, Surin said. (Xinhua)
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