China And Thailand To Strengthen Army Ties

[george]

China and Thailand to strengthen army ties

BEIJING: -- China and Thailand on Monday pledged to boost their military ties as the commander of the Royal Thai Army paid his first visit to China.

Thai Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin was in Beijing for a four day visit between January 21-24, his first official visit to China since he led a coup to oust prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

During an hour-long talk Monday with Gen. Ge Zhenfeng, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), the two generals agreed that they would enhance cooperation between the two country's armed forces and work on future China-Thai exchange programmes.

The Chinese suggested that the Thai army send their special units for advanced training in China while the Thai general proposed joint military exercises in extreme climatic conditions such as in deserts and in cold climate.

Gen. Sonthi also paid a courtesy call to Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong who said that the Chinese government attached importance to relations with Thailand, and would enhance bilateral cooperation to help improve regional peace and development.

The Chinese vice president also expressed hope that the drafting of Thailand's new constitution would be successful. He added that an official invitation would soon be extended to Thailand's interim prime minister Surayud Chulanont.

Gen. Sonthi also met with Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan.

--TNA 2007-01-23