Thailand, China agree to push for closer trade and tourism ties

BEIJING, June 24 (TNA) - Visiting Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday said Thailand and China would strengthen bilateral economic and trade partnership and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao affirmed he would encourage more Chinese to visit Thailand.

The Thai premier began his four-day official visit to the Chinese capital Beijing on Wednesday, a trip aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and economic cooperation.

Mr. Abhisit said he had discussed with his Chinese counterpart bilateral relations and partnership in regional policy and China's role in relation to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) , trade, investment, tourism and agriculture.

The Thai prime minister noted his Chinese counterpart Wen said he would help Thailand’s tourism industry by encouraging more Chinese tourists to visit the kingdom after China had earlier warned its citizens not to visit due to the political crisis in April.

Tourist arrivals to Thailand totalled some 3.2 million in the first quarter of 2009, down 19 percent compared to the corresponding period last year, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The two prime ministers also witnessed the signing of the Thai-Chinese bilateral agreement on economic and trade cooperation, education and customs protocol for Thai fruit exports to China.

On Thursday, the Thai premier was to meet with the president of China Railway Engineering Corporation to discuss the possibility of future investment in Thailand and the project to connect regional railways to Southeast Asia, China has already begun its railroad project to Vietnam.

Mr. Abhisit is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday. (TNA)