Chinese Vice President makes courtesy call on chief Privy Councillor

BANGKOK, December 23 (TNA) - Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and his entourage made a courtesy call on Thailand's Privy Council President and Statesman Prem Tinsulanonda in Bangkok on Friday to extend the Chinese government's best wishes to His Majesty King Bhimubol Adulyadej on the occasion of the revered Thai monarch's 7th cycle birthday on December 5, 2011. The Chinese Vice President and the Privy Council President, who is a former Thai premier, agreed during their meeting that China and Thailand have always been good friends and have outstandingly helped each other, especially in natural disasters. Vice President Xi and General Prem also expressed their satisfaction with strengthening relations and cooperation between Beijing and Bangkok during the talks, in which Privy Councilors General Surayud Chulanont, also a former Thai prime minister, and Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila, a former Thai foreign minister, participated. The Chinese Vice President is paying a three-day official visit to Thailand as the guest of the Thai government from December 22-24, his second trip to the Thai Kingdom in 11 years. (TNA)