On the afternoon of October 18, 2003, President Hu Jintao, on a state visit to Thailand, met with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views and reached wide consensus on how to further develop bilateral relations and the upcoming APEC Informal Leadership Meeting.

Hu said that China and Thailand are good neighbors, friends and partners. Despite the changes in the international situation, China-Thailand relations have been developing in a sound and stable manner, an example of good-neighborly and friendly cooperation between China and neighboring countries. We are glad to see that in recent year, China-Thailand cooperation has been strategic. Hu said that Thailand is the first country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) that he visited since he became President of China, and an important aim of his current visit is to demonstrate to the Thai government and people the importance China's new generation of leadership attached to its relations with Thailand and would like to work with the Thai side to promote China-Thailand relations to a new high. Hu put forward a five-point proposal, which includes the following. First, high-level exchange of visit should be maintained. The leaders of the two countries can exchange frequent visits and make full use of multilateral occasions to maintain close consultation on major issues and further consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations. Second, economic and trade cooperation should be expanded. The two countries should make full use of the just established economic and trade cooperation mechanism at the deputy prime ministerial level and make strategic plans accordingly. We should continue to promote the process of building China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and consolidate the material basis of bilateral relations. Third, cooperation in the fields of culture, education and security should be actively promoted to push for all-round development of China-Thailand relations. Fourth, people-to-people exchanges of all forms should be promoted, exchanges between legislatures, parties and non-governmental organizations expanded, personnel exchanges, in particular youth exchanges, strengthened. The tradition of family ties between China and Thailand should be given play to and the social foundation of bilateral friendship enhanced. Fifth, the two countries should strengthen cooperation on international and regional affairs. China backs a cooperation and dialogue mechanism among Asian nations proposed by Thailand and an anti-drug mechanism among China, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and India. The two countries should strengthen good coordination in APEC and other multilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Thaksin extended the warmest welcome to Hu on behalf of the Thai government and people. He warmly congratulated China on the first successful manned space flight, saying it is a pride of all people in Asia. Thaksin agreed with Hu on the five-point proposal as they showcase the level of all-directional and friendly relationship between the two sides and will boost their cooperation in new areas. Thailand will continue adhering to the One China policy firmly and develop friendly cooperative ties with China in areas of politics, finance and trade for the benefit of the two peoples and Asian people.

On the upcoming APEC Informal Leadership Meeting, Hu said that since its founding more than 10 years ago, APEC has scored important results in trade and investment liberalization and economic and technical cooperation. It has contributed not only to regional economic cooperation, but also the economic development of Asia and the world as a whole. He highlighted the remarkable preparations that Thailand has made for the APEC meeting.

Thaksin said that as the host, Thailand would work with China and other members for positive results of the meeting and promote cooperation in the Asia Pacific region.

Following their meeting, Hu and Thaksin attended the signing ceremony of five documents on bilateral cooperation, including an agreement on establishing a joint committee on trade, investment and economic cooperation.