Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sent a congratulatory message Wednesday to Thailand on the inauguration of the Chinese Spring Festival Culture Week.

In the message, Wen said the two countries will jointly hold a series of celebration events in Thailand this year to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

He believed that these events, including the Chinese Culture Year opened along with the culture week, will further deepen friendly relations of cooperation between China and Thailand.

"In the past, the two peoples have been like brothers. We have enjoyed mutual understanding and support, friendly cooperation and common development," Wen said.

At the traditional Spring Festival, the Chinese government and people are willing to extend sincere greetings to their Thai counterparts, said the premier.

"I wish that the Thai government and people would completely overcome the disaster caused by tsunamis at the end of last year, and would attain great success in reconstruction after the catastrophe," he added.

Wen hoped that by hosting the cultural week, Thailand will showits courage, confidence and capability to defeat the disaster, as well as the profound friendship between the two peoples.
 
(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2005)