Thailand, China affirm intention to boost regional security cooperation

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BANGKOK, July 11 — Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra met visiting Chinese State Councilor Meng Jianzhu on the theme of security and law enforcement cooperation.

Ms Yingluck welcomed Mr Meng at Government House and told him that the visit would underline better bilateral cooperation between Thailand and China and affirm strong intention of both sides to strengthen relations on security and promote the regional security.

Mr Meng, who is also China’s Minister of Public Security, expressed gratitude for Thailand’s cooperation in investigating the murder of 13 Chinese sailors on two Mekong River cargo ships on Oct 5 last year.

China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand successfully acted together to apprehend ‘Naw Kham’, the head of an armed drug gang, on April 25 as well as some of the gang’s key members. Naw Kham was suspected of planning the victims’ murder and was sent from Vientiane to Beijing.

As the investigation into the case was going on, Mr Meng said that China was confident that the Thai agencies involved would be able to solve the case and bring the culprits to justice.

Thailand and China also agreed to exchange information and cooperation in joint patrols along the Mekong River by Thailand, China, Lao and Myanmar to provide security, he said.

Moreover, Mr Meng informed the Thai premier that Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao accepted Thailand’s invitation to officially visit Thailand, which would be meaningful for Sino-Thai relations.