Legislative leaders of China, Thailand pledge to boost railway cooperation

BEIJING, March 24-- Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang on Tuesday called on the legislative bodies of China and Thailand to push railway collaboration.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, was speaking during talks with the president of Thailand's National Legislative Assembly, Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing.

Zhang underscored the importance the NPC placed on developing ties with Thailand's National Legislative Assembly, and pledged to share experience on state governance, legislation and supervision.

He called on the legislative bodies to support railway construction collaboration and to provide a sound legal environment for bilateral investment, and economic and trade cooperation.

Pornpetch said railway cooperation projects were "advancing positively" and that his side also wanted to work closer with the NPC to boost ties.

This year marks 40 years of China-Thailand relations, which have developed smoothly, despite changes to the international community, said Zhang.

Zhang called on both countries to beef up political trust and strategic communication, deepen economic and trade cooperation, make use of the 40th anniversary commemorations to enhance people-to-people friendship and strengthen coordination on international and regional issues.

Pornpetch reviewed the long-standing friendship between the two countries, saying the Thai royal family, government, parliament and public were friendly toward China.

He thanked China for supporting Thailand's reform and development and said that Thailand's National Legislative Assembly would like to continuously enhance exchanges and cooperation with China's NPC to further friendly ties between the two countries.