On September 11, 2012, Vice Premier Li Keqiang met in Yinchuan, Ningxia with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa and some ministers and their representatives from Arab states attending the China (Ningxia) International Investment and Trade Fair and the 3rd China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum, as well as heads of Arab friendship-with-China organizations, League of Arab States and the Federation of Arab-China Friendship Associations attending the Fourth Chinese-Arab Friendship Conference.
When meeting with Chumpol Silapa-archa, Li said China and Thailand are friendly neighbors and their bilateral relations have maintained sustained, healthy and stable development with deepening friendship between the peoples of the two countries. China regards Thailand as one of the region's most trusted partners, Li said, noting that the country is willing to work with Thailand to maintain high-level exchanges, deepen economic and trade cooperation and expand people-to-people communication to promote bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and make the concept of "China and Thailand are as close as one family" be more deeply rooted in the hearts of both peoples. Sino-Thai relations can play a leading role in China-ASEAN relations through the strengthening of cooperation, according to Li. Thailand is an important country in Southeast Asia and plays an active role in regional affairs, Li said. Li expounded the Chinese government's principled position over the Diaoyu Islands, saying that the resolve of China on safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unshakable.
Chumpol Silapa-archa said in recent years, bilateral relations have developed smoothly, with frequent high-level exchanges and close personnel exchanges. The number of Chinese tourists to Thailand this year is expected to exceed two million. He said he understands China's position on the Diaoyu Islands issue.
When meeting with guests from the Arab countries, Li said the friendly ties between China and Arab states have a long history. As early as 2,000 years ago, the ancient Silk Road linked the people of both sides together. In recent years, the Sino-Arab relations have been developing smoothly and both sides have established a strategic cooperative relationship based on comprehensive cooperation and common development. The trade volume has achieved an average annual growth of 30% in the past decade and Arab countries have become China's seventh largest trading partner. Both sides have also made new progress in exchanges in culture, education and other areas. China-Arab relations have ushered in new opportunities and China is ready to push forward bilateral strategic cooperative relationship to benefit the peoples, he said. He believed that China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum and Chinese-Arab Friendship Conference will play their due role as a bridge in deepening Sino-Arab cooperation and promoting common development.