Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (R) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the government house in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, May 1, 2013. Photo: Xinhua

In the first leg of his Southeast Asian visit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in Thailand on Wednesday. At the meeting, the Thai Prime Minister said Bangkok is ready for comprehensive cooperation with Beijing through a strengthened political communication channel and continued strong growth in bilateral trade. Wang Yi said China’s new leaders will continue to consolidate China’s traditional relation with Thailand and promote mutually beneficial cooperation through diplomatic relations. The Chinese Foreign Minister expressed his hope that both sides will strengthen their cooperation at regional forums. He will visit Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei after Thailand.