BEIJING, January 8 (ChinaMil)—Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe met with Apirat Kongsompong, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army in Beijing on Monday afternoon.

Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe meets with the visiting Apirat Kongsompong, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, in Beijing on the afternoon of January 7, 2019. (Photo by Li Xiaowei)

Wei Fenghe said that China and Thailand share a deep and broad traditional friendship, and the Chinese and the Thais are like 'one family'. In recent years, under the guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the China-Thailand comprehensive strategic partnership has developed smoothly, and has become a model of good neighborliness and friendship for China to build ties with neighboring countries. The Chinese military regards the Thai military as an important partner and supports Thailand in playing a significant role in regional security. China is willing to work with Thailand to fulfill the consensuses reached by the leaders of the two countries, to enhance strategic communication and multilateral coordination, and to expand practical cooperation with Thailand in such fields as joint training and exercise, equipment technology and personnel training, so that the two sides can promote military cooperation to a new level and jointly safeguard regional security and stability.

Apirat Kongsompong said that Thailand and China are friendly neighbors. In recent years, the relations between the two countries and the two militaries have developed steadily and borne a series of important fruits. Thailand’s economic and social development has benefited from the vigorous support of China. The Thai military attaches great importance to the development of relations with the Chinese military and is willing to further deepen cooperation in the fields of joint training and exercise, personnel training, and so forth.

General Han Weiguo, Commander of the PLA Army, also attended the meeting.