Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram has spoken highly of
the role that the China-ASEAN dialogue mechanism played in
promoting bilateral cooperation, and expected an upcoming summit in
China to nurture a broader prospect for future cooperation.
China-ASEAN and China-Thai relations have reached a "win-win
situation" after a long and positive development, Pibulsonggram
said in a recent interview with Bangkok-based Chinese journalists
on Tuesday.
China and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
decided to hold a commemorative summit on the 15th anniversary of
the establishment of the China-ASEAN dialogue in Nanning, the
capital city of Guangxi in southern China.
Pibulsonggram, who took office earlier this month, will
accompany Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to attend the Oct.
30-31 summit.
"Dialogue is what brings people together. And for China and
ASEAN, it builds confidence and understanding, and eventually paves
the way toward our close relations," he said.
"Going to Nanning is important for us to look over the past and
to review the relations we have had, which ... have been always
very positive," he said, adding that ties between China and ASEAN,
of which Thailand is a part, have been very good in the past 15
years.
The summit, he said, will see Chinese and ASEAN leaders sign a
statement, which will be seen as "a road map, a plan of action, a
blueprint" for future China-ASEAN cooperation.
The joint statement will have impact not only on the current
China-ASEAN ties, but also on the long-term bilateral cooperation,
he said.
The minister believed that the friendly trade relations between
China and Thailand will continue, get deeper, and direct the future
China-Thai trade cooperation, as both countries have made great
economic and trade achievements, since the establishment of the
China-ASEAN dialogue mechanism in 1996.
The combined population of ASEAN countries and China reaches
almost 2 billion, which provides a huge market for both sides,
Pibulsonggram said.
He noted much progress has been made in the ASEAN-China Free
Trade Agreement negotiations, and added that the ASEAN-China trade
volume has exceeded US$130 billion.
Thailand is delighted at the fact that ASEAN and China have
signed a trade cooperation agreement on industrial and agricultural
products, and looking forward to the signing of a trade agreement
on services between the two sides.
Referring to the cultural exchanges between Thailand and China,
the foreign minister said both sides enjoy very close ties in
geography, history and culture.
Many people in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries have
showed great interest in learning the Chinese language, which has
become very much a commercial language in the region.
The Thai government, meanwhile, is considering to soon set up a
study center in Beijing to help the Chinese, especially the young
people, to know more about Thai language and culture.
Pibulsonggram believed that the close ties between Thailand and
China will be strengthened during the upcoming summit.
The ASEAN, which was established on Aug. 8, 1967 in Bangkok,
groups 10 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar
and Cambodia. ASEAN established the relationship of dialogue and
partnership with China in 1996.
(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2006)