Thai DPM attends ASEAN-China ministerial meeting

BANGKOK, August 29 (TNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul attended a special meeting of the foreign ministers of China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) in Beijing on Thursday, at which he hoped China and ASEAN would further boost their economic cooperation and connectivity. Surapong, who co-chaired the meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, thanked China for organizing the meeting on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership between China and ASEAN, saying that he supports Wang’s recent remarks in Bangkok that China and ASEAN have developed their natural relations for a long time. Surapong expressed his hope that Thursday's meeting should further enhance relations and comprehensive cooperation, including trade, economic affairs and connectivity, between the two sides. The Thai deputy prime minister also called on participants to demonstrate their sincerity to push for the cooperation. At the forum, the participants shared their ideas on the development of comprehensive cooperation, while China noted that Beijing considers its relations with ASEAN as its first priority and intends to increase product items for mutual trade and its value. China also acknowledged that it has set up a fund to support its cooperation with ASEAN and encouraged other Asian countries, with substantial foreign exchange reserves, to jointly raise a fund for regional infrastructure development. China and ASEAN also agreed that they do not want conflicts in the South China Sea to obstruct their relations. (TNA)