Thai opposition leader meets visiting Chinese VP

BANGKOK, December 24 (TNA) - Thai former Democrat prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is now the country's opposition leader, met visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok on Saturday, when he thanked Beijing for carrying on Thai-Sino projects agreed during his previous administration, which have contributed to further strengthen relations between Thailand and China. Accompanied by ex-deputy Thai prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Abhisit conferred on relations between Bangkok and Beijing, which have been cherished for a long time in every field, including trade, investment and tourism. Abhisit also thanked the Chinese Vice President for paying a three-day visit to Thailand, from December 22-24, and has signed several bilateral projects, earlier agreed by Beijing and Bangkok while he was the Thai premier. Abhisit told the visiting Chinese Vice President that relations between China and Thailand are expected to further strengthen although his Democrat Party is now in the opposition camp. Abhisit and Xi, meanwhile, witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between China and Thailand on the development of high speed train on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route, the development of a regional railway network connecting Thailand with other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a water management and cooperation plan in which flood and drought prevention measures in Thailand are included. (TNA)