Xi confident of boost to China-ASEAN ties

Thailand supports China’s proposal to establish an investment bank to boost infrastructure construction in Asia, she added.

Zhang Yunling, a researcher on ASEAN studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said "as a key player and founder of ASEAN," Thailand sees the big picture and the general interests of the region.

Thailand has no disputes with China, it is neutral as a coordinator between China and ASEAN, Zhang added.

According to Zhang, China’s large market plays a vital role in the economic development of ASEAN.

Chinese investments can also help the organization better fund infrastructure projects, which will improve connectivity among the Southeast Asian countries, he said.

Yingluck told Xi that her country would like to further strengthen cooperation with China, especially in trade, investment and infrastructure construction.

China and Thailand established diplomatic ties in 1975.

In 2012, the value of China-Thailand bilateral trade approached $70 billion, with Thailand as China’s second-largest trade partner in ASEAN and a major source of rice and natural rubber. China is both the largest export market and also leading import source for Thailand.

China has recently become Thailand’s top source of foreign visitors. According to Thai statistics, 2.8 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand in 2012. In the first six months of this year alone, about 2.3 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand.

Xi also met New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on Sunday.

Key guaranteed Xi that his country will undertake the strictest measures to ensure the safety of dairy products exported to China, after a bacteria health scare involving a New Zealand company in August.

Key explained to Xi how New Zealand dealt with the case, while Xi told him that Beijing hopes Wellington will maintain strict standards of food hygiene and maintain the momentum in China-New Zealand trade cooperation.

On Sunday, President Xi also met his Chilean counterpart, Sebastian Pinera, vowing to further bilateral cooperation between their countries.

In his talks with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Xi said Beijing is ready to work with Canberra to forge a model relationship that transcends cultural, historical and social system differences.

The president said the two countries should strive to attain "substantial progress" in their negotiations for the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.