国内英语新闻:China, Thailand hold strategic consultations

CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai held here Saturday strategic consultations.

Wang said during the consultations that China and Thailand are comprehensive strategic cooperative partners and the two sides should enhance strategic communication, boost strategic cooperation and work together to make positive contribution to peace, stability and development of the region.

Noting that Thailand holds the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, Wang said China supports the building the ASEAN Community and will fully support Thailand to fulfill its duties as chair of the ASEAN.

China is willing to join hands with Thailand to push forward the connection between the Belt and Road Initiative and ASEAN's overall plan on connectivity, promote regional connectivity and sustainable development, successfully hold the China-ASEAN Year of Media Exchanges, lift the level of defense and security cooperation and press forward the development of China-ASEAN relations and the cooperation in East Asia to achieve greater progress, Wang said.

In recent years, the foundation of friendly public opinion between the two countries has been further consolidated and the two sides have enjoyed good coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, he said.

China is satisfied with the current development of the ties between the two countries and is willing to join hands with the Thai side in a bid to bring the China-Thailand ties to a new high, Wang added.

Wang welcomed Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha to go to China to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in April in Beijing, hoping it will serve as an opportunity for the two countries to further boost mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation.

For his part, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said Thailand and China have enjoyed high-level mutual trust and deep friendship, with frequent high-level exchanges and fruitful achievements in economic cooperation.

Thailand welcomes China's development and revitalization, hoping China will play a more important role in maintaining world peace and development, Don said.

The Thai foreign minister said the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will bring more opportunities for the development of Thailand as well as the cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides also had an in-depth discussion on international and regional issues of mutual concern and reached wide range of consensus.