Attending a trade and investment fair between Thailand and Yunnan Province in southwest China, Somkid cited Yunnan as a bond of Sino-Thai friendship and cooperation

A transportation network linking Thailand and Yunnan would not only facilitate the cooperation of the Mekong River sub-region, but benefit the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Somkid, who arrived in the provincial capital of Kunming, Sunday afternoon as a guest of Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi, said that strengthening cooperation between Thailand and Yunnan was conducive to the development of trade, investment and tourism.

Yunnan Provincial Governor Xu Rongkai met and conferred with Deputy Thai Prime Minister Somkid here Monday afternoon on the economic cooperation between the two countries.

Xu said that the strengthening of cooperation between Yunnan and Thailand was of important significance for the promotion of the Mekong River sub-regional cooperation and the building of the China-ASEAN free trade area.

Yunnan Province would expand its cooperation with Thailand in agriculture, mining, tourism and pharmacy, said Xu.

After the meeting, Somkid attended a signing ceremony for bilateral cooperation documents.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2003)