China, Thailand agree to strengthen parliamentary exchanges

BEIJING, May 27 -- Top legislator Zhang Dejiang on Friday called for mutual understanding and support between China and Thailand on issues of major concern.

Zhang made the remarks when meeting with President of the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand Pornpetch Wichitcholchai in Beijing.

China and Thailand are friendly neighbors and reliable partners, said Zhang, who is chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

He said the two sides should stick to the overall situation of bilateral friendship, and promote cooperation in various fields to push for greater development of mutually beneficial cooperation.

The NPC is ready to conduct more exchanges with the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand, he said, calling on the two bodies to enhance communication and coordination in international and regional parliamentary organizations.

Pornpetch said the friendly exchanges between the two parliaments have effectively deepened the relationship between the two nations and their people.

The National Legislative Assembly of Thailand is willing to work with the NPC to strengthen exchanges and cooperation and together play a positive role to promoting bilateral cooperation as well as China-ASEAN ties, he said.