Wen meets with Italian PM

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao shakes hands on Thursday afternoon with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who is in Beijing to attend the Asia-Europe summit scheduled for October 24 to 25. [Xinhua Photo]

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met on Thursday afternoon with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who is in Beijing to attend the Asia-Europe summit scheduled for October 24 to 25.

Wen told Berlusconi that China appreciates the Italian government's active efforts to promote cooperation with China and the development of China-EU relations.

Hailing the good momentum of China-Italy relations, Wen said China is ready to maintain high-level visits and consultation at all levels and enhance coordination in international affairs.

He called on the two sides to strengthen cooperation on environmental protection, new energy, urban construction and creative designs, step up the protection of IPR in both countries, and increase cultural exchanges.

He stressed that the two countries should make joint efforts to make bilateral trade and investment grow continuously.

Berlusconi said Italy hopes to continue the good cooperation with China to advance the relationship towards comprehensive development.

He said he admired China's great development achievements in recent years, and congratulated China's success in the Beijing Olympic Games and the Shenzhou 7 manned space flight mission.

Berlusconi arrived in Beijing on Thursday afternoon to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).  

Wen meets Thai Prime Minister

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meets on Friday morning with Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat who is in Beijing to attend the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held on October 24 to 25. [Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met on Friday morning with Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat who is in Beijing to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held on Octobr 24 to 25.

Wen said China is willing to maintain high-level contacts with Thailand to solidify Sino-Thai good neighborly friendship and promote strategic cooperation in terms of economy and trade, personnel and cultural exchanges, as well as regional and international affairs.

The Chinese government will actively promote bilateral trade growth and give support to Chinese enterprises to take part in infrastructure building in Thailand, he said.

He hoped the two sides could set up cultural centers mutually at an early date and enhance exchanges between young peoples.

China is willing to cooperate with Thailand in hosting a series of East Asia meetings in Bangkok at the year-end and push forward cooperation in East Asia.

Wen said since China and Thailand established diplomatic relations 33 years ago, the two sides have respected and helped each other to strive for further development.

He expressed the hope that Thailand could maintain stability, harmony and economic development.

Somchai said during the meeting that the two peoples have been engaged in friendly contacts and the two countries have conducted mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.

Thailand hoped China could sustain development, which was significant for both Thailand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he said, adding that Thailand is willing to further exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields.

Established as a high-level forum between governments of Asia and Europe, the ASEM this year is expected to focus on how to respond to the current global financial crisis.

Launched in 1996 as an informal dialogue mechanism, the biennial ASEM now includes 45 members, representing more than 50 percent of the world's gross domestic product.