VZCZCXRO2379
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #3706/01 1520858
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 010858Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8541
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003706 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2017 
TAGS: PREL ETRD CH TH
SUBJECT: THAI PM MEETS CHINESE LEADERS AND SIGNS FIVE-YEAR 
PLAN FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP IN BEIJING VISIT 
 
REF: BEIJING 592 
 
Classified By: Edgard Kagan, Political External Unit Chief.  Reasons 1. 
4 (b/d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Thailand Prime Minister Surayud Chulanot 
visited Beijing and Kunming May 28-29, meeting with President 
Hu, Premier Wen and State Councilor Tang.  The PM was 
accompanied by Thailand's Defense Minister, who met 
separately with PRC Defense Minister Cao and state-run arms 
procurement agency COSTIND, but no new arms sales were 
announced.  The two countries signed a five-year framework of 
activities under their strategic partnership and a document 
agreeing to recognize each other's university degrees for 
purposes of graduate school admission.  Surayud's visit was 
cut short when he needed to return to Bangkok because of 
legislative activity outlawing ousted Thai PM Thaksin's 
former political party, a Thai Embassy official told us.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) Thai PM Surayud made his first official visit to China 
as PM May 28, meeting with President Hu, Premier Wen and 
State Councilor Tang, according to Yang Yang, Deputy Director 
of the MFA Asia Department Thailand and Maritime Southeast 
Asia Division.  Chinese leaders evaluate the bilateral 
relationship with Bangkok very highly, Yang told us, noting 
that China has pledged to support Thailand no matter what its 
form of government and without regard to development of Thai 
internal politics.  Thai Embassy poloff Namon Yuthavong 
provided Poloff with a similar readout, although she noted 
that Premier Wen told Surayud China was pleased to see 
Thailand making progress at restoring elected government. 
Leaders expressed satisfaction over the annual bilateral 
trade volume of USD 25 billion, Namon added, noting that they 
are on track to reach their goal of expanding bilateral trade 
to USD 50 billion per year by 2011. 
 
¶3. (C) Leaders signed two major bilateral agreements during 
the visit, MFA's Yang said.  A Five-Year Plan for the 
China-Thailand Strategic Partnership will serve as an 
umbrella document setting forth goals and encouraging greater 
exchange in fields ranging from the economy, science and 
technology, health and culture to political and security 
affairs.  The Thai Embassy's Namon said the partnership is a 
general framework through 2011 and does not spell out any 
specific or detailed programs.  Education ministries from 
both countries inked a pact that makes undergraduate degrees 
earned at many Thai universities valid for students applying 
to Chinese graduate schools and vice versa, Namon added. 
 
Defense Minister Joins But No Arms Deals Announced 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶4. (C) Surayud was accompanied by Thai Defense Minister 
Boonrawd Santal, whose separate schedule included meetings 
with China's Minister of Defense Cao Guangchan and with 
officials of state-run arms dealing entity COSTIND, Namon 
said.  These meetings, which followed up on talks Committee 
for National Security Chair General Sonthi had during his 
January 21-24 visit (reftel), resulted in agreements to 
enhance exchange of military officials, but Namon said no new 
arms deals were reached. 
 
Visit to Yunnan, Transport Links 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) On May 28, PM Surayud visited China's Southwest Yunnan 
Province, where he held talks with Governor Qin Guangrong. 
The two discussed cross-border issues involving trade, drugs 
and movement of people, including two planned highways that 
will link Thailand with Yunnan Province via Laos and Burma. 
The first such highway is due to open by 2008, Namon said, 
although she noted that a planned railway link through Laos 
has been delayed.  Yunnan experts in poppy eradication and 
crop substitution will be sent to Thailand as part of Chinese 
support for a special project on poppy eradication run by the 
charitable foundation of Thailand's King, to which Beijing 
donated US$ 1 million, she added. 
 
Trip Cut Short Because of Political Party Law 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Surayud had planned to stay in China an additional day 
but cut short his trip so that he could be present in Bangkok 
for legislative action on a political party law, said Namon, 
whose father is Science Minister in the Thai government.  The 
 
BEIJING 00003706  002 OF 002 
 
 
law, which outlawed former PM Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party, 
is controversial and may lead to more political troubles in 
Thailand if the former Thai Rak Thai officials who can no 
longer take part in political life seek other outlets for 
their political views, she said. 
PICCUTA