Thaksin welcomed Li's participation to the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).

He said the effective cooperation between Thailand and China has brought about practical benefits to the peoples of the two countries.

He said the recent agreement between the two countries on vegetable and fruits tariffs is a good example of Sino-Thai cooperation.

He said Thailand is willing to advance the strategic and comprehensive cooperation with China.

The Thai prime minister said Thailand is to cooperate with China within the ACD framework in an effort to promote prosperity and stability in Asia.

Li Zhaoxing said Thailand is a friendly neighbor of China in Southeast Asia. The two countries have treated each other sincerely and trusted each other.

He said China has listed Thailand as one of the most important cooperative partners in the region and is willing to further promote high-level official exchange between the two countries.

Li said China is to expand cooperation with Thailand in more fields and push cooperation between the two countries to a new level.

On the ACD meeting which will formally open Sunday, Li Zhaoxing said the ACD, initiated by Thaksin, is of strategic importance and is a good thing for peoples from various Asian countries.

He stressed China's further support for the ACD activities.

After the meeting, the foreign ministers of the two countries signed the Treaty between the Kingdom of Thailand and the People's Republic of China on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2003)