Chinese president urges stronger Sino-Thai relations

President Hu Jintao said Wednesday that China and Thailand will continue to strengthen friendly exchanges at all levels and enhance mutual trust and friendship.Hu made the remark while meeting with visiting Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Great Hall of the People.He said that since the two countries established diplomatic links 37 years ago, China and Thailand have supported each other despite changes in the international situation and their own domestic conditions. Noting that bilateral relations have been growing smoothly, the president said the China-Thailand friendship has become the consensus of the leaders of the two countries and the common aspiration ofvarious sections of their respective societies.Noting that the two countries have agreed to upgrade their bilateral links to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Hu called for the two sides to seize the opportunity to further advance friendly ties.The two countries should further expand trade and mutual investment so as to realize the goal of increasing two-way trade to 100 billion U.S. dollars per year ahead of schedule, according to Hu. He urged the two sides to observe the guidance of a newly signed joint action plan for strategic cooperation and a five-year plan for expanding trade and economic cooperation.He said the two sides should continue to advance cooperation in defense and law enforcement, jointly combat terrorism and cross-border crime and create a sound environment for their development and that of other countries in the region.Hu urged the two countries to increase the scope and depth of cultural and people-to-people exchanges to add new vigor to China-Thailand relations.