BANGKOK, Nov 14 – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will visit Bangkok as a guest of the Thai government next Tuesday and Wednesday, holding bilateral talks with his Thai counterpart to boost the ties between the two countries.
The Chinese leader’s visit comes at an invitation of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The Nov 20-21 visit is considered the first official trip of the outgoing Chinese premier to the kingdom.
The two prime ministers will discuss and exchange views to promote bilateral relations and cooperation between Thailand and China as earlier agreed in the “Joint Statement Between the People’s Republic of China and Thailand on Establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership” during Ms Yingluck’s visit to China in April.
The Chinese and Thai leaders are scheduled to witness the signing of several agreements between their countries on education, prisoners’ extradition. They will also attend the inauguration of the Chinese Cultural Centre in Bangkok.
The Chinese premier will also meet Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda at his Si Sao Thewes Residence on the evening of Nov 21 before being granted an audience with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj Hospital, the last programme of his two-day visit.
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s visit comes only one day after an official visit of US President Barack Obama, scheduled to visit Thailand on Sunday and meet with Ms Yingluck at Government House the same day.
Mr Obama will also be granted an audience with the Thai monarch Sunday evening and spend the night in Bangkok before leaving for Myanmar and Cambodia, as part of his Southeast Asian tour, the first overseas trip since he was re-elected as US president.
