Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Bangkok on Friday that the new generation of the Chinese leadership will work closely with Thailand to push their full-range cooperative relationship to a new high.

Hu and his wife Liu Yongqing arrived in Bangkok Friday afternoon on a state visit.

Shortly after their arrival, Hu and his wife met with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. Both sides expressed their satisfaction over the development of bilateral relations.

China and Thailand are very close neighbors and trustworthy friends, and during the past have established brotherly relations on the base of mutual respect, trust and trade, President Hu said.

The Chinese President noted that the brotherly relations between Thailand and China have endured the test of time and changes in international situation, and have become even deeper, stronger and more vigorous over time.

The Chinese President spoke highly of the contributions that the King of Thailand and other members of the Royal Thai Family have made to promote the Chinese-Thai friendship relation and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

To develop friendly relations is not only a set on the political policy of China and Thailand, but also on the common wish of the Thai and Chinese people, President Hu said. The new generation of Chinese leadership will follow the principle of treating neighbors as friends and partners, and work closely with the Thai government so that our bilateral relations can even grow to higher levels.

On his part, the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej said that Thailand and China have valued their friendship relations since ancient times, and that the two nations and the Thai & Chinese people are enjoying even closer and more sincere ties than was the case in any time in the past.

The King of Thailand further said he believed that President Hu's visit to the Apec Thailand 2003 summit could only further consolidate the already existing friendship and cooperation between the Kingdom of Thailand and China.

Following the meeting, President Hu and his wife Liu Yongqing attended a welcome banquet in Bangkok hosted by the King and Queen of Thailand.

Also on Friday, President Hu of China met with the President of the Thai National Assembly Uthai Pimchaichon in Bangkok. President Hu said he hoped that commercial exchanges between the legislatures of China and Thailand will be intensified in the future.