A new Sino-Thai agreement on a tariff-free deal for fruit and vegetable trade is an important step in setting up the China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) free trade area.
The pact will not only facilitate Sino-Thai cooperation, but also benefit regional cooperation, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing Thursday at a meeting with visiting Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
Briefing the visitors on China's battle against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) disease, Wen said that after the meeting on SARS held in Thailand between leaders of China and ASEAN members, China had taken a series of follow-up actions and promoted regional cooperation in public health.
China and ASEAN countries withstood the test of SARS, and their future cooperation would be closer and even more fruitful, said Wen.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid said that bilateral friendship was very firm and both sides had kept close contact.
Somkid concluded his China tour Thursday evening.
(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2003)
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