Wen made the remarks in Beijing Wednesday at a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, here on a two-day working visit as guest of Premier Zhu Rongji.

Wen praised both countries as good friends, neighbors and partners with similar cultures, and said bilateral relations had progressed steadily as they had followed the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence since forging diplomatic ties.

After years of joint efforts, the two countries had enhanced their political mutual trust, cooperation in various fields, and closer coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, noted Wen.

Stressing China had always regarded Thailand as one of its most important cooperative partners in Asia, Wen said it was China's long-term policy to strengthen good neighborliness, mutual trust, and all-round cooperative ties with Thailand.

Thaksin, who is on his fifth visit to China, said he was aware of bilateral friendship when he was young. After taking office as Thai prime minister, he had gained support from Chinese leaders in both bilateral ties and international and regional affairs.

China was the most important country in Asia, and it would have been hard for regional cooperative efforts to achieve current progress without China's sincere support, he said.

He said he was ready to cooperate closely with China's new leadership to jointly promote the development of neighborly friendship and cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2003)