Chinese President Xi Jinping told Thai PM Srettha Thavisin, during their bilateral meeting in Beijing, that the two countries should accelerate construction of the China-Thailand railway and expand cooperation in the digital economy, green development and new energy.

Both countries must also intensify efforts to crack down on cross-border crimes, such as telecom fraud and online gambling, to create a safer environment for the development of both countries.

China’s Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying that China is willing to share more opportunities in China’s vast market. China stands ready to work together with Thailand to add new dimensions to their family-like relations as well as transform advantages of the traditional friendship into a driving force for win-win cooperation.

Srettha was in Beijing to attend for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and for an official visit at the invitation of the Chinese government. He noted that Thailand will work with China to build a more stable, prosperous and sustainable Thailand-China community with a shared future.

He said Thailand will do its utmost to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens while they are in Thailand and would welcome more Chinese enterprises to invest in and more Chinese citizens to visit Thailand.

Xi said Srettha made China his first official visit to a country outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which reflects the great importance that the new government of Thailand places on bilateral relations.

Senior Chinese leaders, including Cai Qi and Wang Yi, were present at the meeting.