Deputy PM meets Henan deputy provincial governor

BANGKOK, Nov 26 (TNA) -- Chinese visitors to Thailand will be treated like brothers and sisters, Thai deputy prime minister Tanasak Patimapagorn reassured a Chinese delegation during that latter's visit to the Government House on Friday. Speaking to the press after the meeting with Henan deputy provincial governor Zhang Guangzhi, Gen Tanasak said Thailand and China have enjoyed very long relationships in many dimensions ranging from economic cooperation to cultural cooperation and tourism for several hundred years. The peoples of both countries now travel frequently to visit each other every year, and Thailand will assure safety of all Chinese tourists in the country, said the deputy prime minister. He also told Henan deputy provincial governor Zhang Guangzhi the Thai government's latest crack down on the "zero dollar" tourism scheme was done in good faith to ensure fair competition to all in the tourism sector. Both the government and tourist operators have discussed regularly to resolve the problem, he added. Meanwhile the Chinese delegation chief expressed his deepest condolences to the loss of the King Bhumibol last month, saying the late monarch had played an important role to bolster ties between both countries. He also invited the Thai government to open a new tourism promotion office in Henan Province, in addition to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, and Chengdu, and to invite a visit by the Thai deputy prime minister and the Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor to the province. Henan, with a population of over 100 million, is known for its abundant natural resources and as one of the popular tourist destinations of China, as well as an important market for local products. Gen Tanasak promised to consider the offer and would get back to the deputy governor later. (TNA)