On March 30, 2008, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with his Thai counterpart Samak Sundaravej in Vientiane.

During the meeting, Wen said China and Thailand are close and friendly neighbors and their ties have withstood the tests of time and changeable international situations and have always maintained a sound and stable growth momentum. Wen spoke highly of the political trust, economic cooperation of mutual benefits and close people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, noting the belief that "China and Thailand are as close as one family" has already been deeply rooted in the hearts of the peoples of both countries. China is willing to join hands with Thailand in the new situation to strengthen strategic coordination and push forward the comprehensive and pragmatic cooperation in a bid to bring benefits to both peoples and jointly contribute to regional peace and development, he added.

He also expressed his hope that China and Thailand would tap potential in the economic and trade area and strive to fulfill the targets of 50 billion U.S. dollars for the trade volume, mutual investment worth 6.5 billion dollars and 4 million tourists to each other by 2010.  The Chinese government supports its enterprises to involve in the large projects in sectors such as the infrastructure construction and will push for greater achievements of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, Wen told Samak.

The belief that "China and Thailand are as close as one family" is a real reflection of the time-honored and close exchanges between the two countries. Thailand would make joint efforts with the Chinese side to maintain the high-level exchanges and cement the cooperation in various fields in a bid to consolidate the bilateral traditional friendly relations.  He also reiterated that Thailand would adhere to the one-China policy.

Samak said the Tibet question is China's internal affair, voicing his belief that China would well handle the issue and successfully host the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing this summer.