Visiting Chinese culture minister praises Thai PM for improving Sino-Thai relations

BANGKOK, February 7 (TNA) - Chinese Minister of Culture Cai Wu, who is visiting Thailand to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2013, has praised Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's roles for further enhancing Sino-Thai relations. Cai expressed the appreciation during his meeting with the Thai prime minister at Bangkok's Government House on Thursday, saying that he felt highly honored to see the Thai premier and lauded her active roles in strengthening the bilateral Sino-Thai relations. Cai stressed that China is pleased to cooperate with Thailand and other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for their mutual growth and development. When welcoming the visiting Chinese Culture Minister, the Thai premier acknowledged that his visit would further develop bilateral relations and expressed gratitude towards the Chinese Ministry of Culture for bringing cultural shows from seven Chinese provinces to celebrate the Chinese New Year festival in Thailand and sent her regards to her Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao, noting that the Chinese Prime Minister’s visit to Thailand last November helped realize Sino-Thai cooperation in several areas. The Thai prime minister also extended her best wishes on the occasion of the Chinese New Year 2013, saying that she was pleased that the Chinese cultural center was opened smoothly in Thailand to support the study of Thai youths and people on Chinese cultures and expressed her hope that Beijing will support the opening of a Thai cultural center in China in the near future. The visiting Chinese Culture Minister expressed his gratitude towards the Thai prime minister, saying that he would bring her regards and best wishes to the Chinese Premier and people. Both sides emphasized close bilateral relations between Beijing and Bangkok, especially in cultural and civil terms, pointing out that diplomatic relations between the two allied countries have also been growing well. (TNA)