Chinese President Jiang Zemin met with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Shanghai Friday afternoon, and the two leaders exchanged views on issues of common concern.

Thaksin said he is glad to meet Jiang again and wished that the Chinese government will succeed in hosting the APEC Meeting 2001.

He said great changes have taken placed in Shanghai since his last visit two years ago.

Thaksin recalled when he visited China not long ago, the two countries issued a joint communique and reached an initial agreement on establishing a strategic cooperation relationship between the two sides. He hoped the two countries will strengthen cooperation in all fields under the complicated international situation.

Jiang said China and Thailand enjoy close relations. He also recalled Thaksin's successful China visit not long ago, the joint communique the two sides issued, and the new ideas Thaksin proposed on the cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, and drug control.

The Chinese side appreciates all these, Jiang said.

Jiang stressed that it is important to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between China and Thailand, especially when the world is experiencing an economic slowdown. He said the Chinese government is willing to work with the Thai government to consolidate the overall good-neighborly friendship and push forward the mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields between the two countries.

Jiang said China and Thailand have many common points on the issue of fighting terrorism, and the Chinese side is willing to further cooperate with Thai side to safeguard peace and stability in the region and the world at large.

Jiang also wished Thailand would succeed in hosting the APEC Meeting 2003.

(Xinhua News Agency 10/19/2001)