On October 21, 2003, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with Thai Foreign Minister Surakiat Sathirathai in Bangkok.

Li said that President Hu Jintao is attending APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok and paying a state visit to Thailand, which fully shows that the new central leadership of China attaches great importance to China-Thailand relations, and China and Thailand have family-like friendly feelings. The visit has scored positive results. The two leaders reached consensus on how to develop bilateral relations, and we are conscientiously implementing it.

Li said that China-Thailand strategic relationship of cooperation promoted relations between China and ASEAN, and hopes that China-Thailand relations should remain at the forefront of China-ASEAN relations.

Li appreciated the great amount of productive work Thailand has done as a host for the success of the APEC meeting. He said that China fully supports Thailand's work and would strengthen cooperation with Thailand within APEC framework to jointly promote the healthy development of APEC.

Surakiat said that Thailand-China strategic partnership of cooperation jointly initiated by Thai and Chinese leaders is developing smoothly. Bilateral mutual trust has been enhanced, and economic and trade cooperation deepened, benefiting the two countries and peoples, and forcefully promoting the development of ASEAN-China relations. In particular, the zero-tariff agreement on fruits and vegetables between Thailand and China became effective on October 1, speeding up the process of establishing ASEAN-China Free Trade Area. Thailand would work with China, following the five principles set by leaders of the two countries to develop bilateral relations, to deepen bilateral cooperation, strengthen bilateral cooperation in ASEAN, APEC and other regional and international organizations, and maintain regional stability and development.