Chinese Vice-President To Visit Thailand Dec 22-24

BANGKOK, December 19 (TNA) - Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping is scheduled to pay an official visit to Thailand during December 22nd-24th 2011 to strengthen the Thai-Chinese relations. Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Guan Mu announced on Monday that the visit, the first in eleven years by a Chinese Vice President and the first since the formation of the Yingluck Shinawatra government of Thailand, is aimed at strengthening the Thai-Chinese relations. During the visit, the Chinese Vice President is scheduled to meet the Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, President of the Privy Council Prem Tinsulanonda, and House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont. In addition, H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will graciously host a banquet in honour of the visiting Chinese Vice President. According to the Chinese Ambassador, Vice President Xi will also visit Thailand’s post-flood rehabilitation projects to demonstrate China’s goodwill towards the flood victims in Thailand, and will meet representatives from the Thai private sector as well. The Chinese ambassador said further that during the Chinese Vice President’s visit, China will sign with Thailand six important agreements which focus on public utilities, post-flood rehabilitation, and railway constructions. Thailand and China have benefited from their longstanding diplomatic and trade relations. The value of bilateral trade between the two countries last year was reported at 5.29 billion US dollars, a 38.6 percent increase from the year before. Meanwhile, the value of bilateral trade in the first eleven months of this year was reported at 4.92 billion US dollars, and is projected to reach 6 billion US dollars by the end of the year. (TNA)