Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in the Thai capital of Bangkok Tuesday to attend the China-ASEAN leaders' special meeting on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a disease which has posed a common threat to the Asian region.

The Chinese premier was invited by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to the one-day meeting, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. 　　

Wen was greeted by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak at the airport.

At the special meeting, the leaders will discuss ways to strengthen regional cooperation in dealing with SARS and other cross-nation issues.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the meeting, and hopes to further enhance communication, exchanges and cooperation with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and make joint efforts with them for the prevention, treatment and eradication of the SARS epidemic.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and The Philippines.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2003)