Luo Huining, Party secretary of Shanxi province, met a Thai delegation led by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on April 9, to discuss economic and cultural collaboration between Shanxi and Thailand.

Thailand has been in partnership with Shanxi for years, especially in economic matters, Luo said.

He hoped that further communication and cooperation in trade, tourism and other fields between the two sides will be conducted as Shanxi calls for more international support for economic transformation and cultural promotion. Companies in Thailand are being encouraged to expand business in the province.

Princess Sirindhorn said that she cares about Shanxi's economic transformation and is impressed by the province's progress. She echoed Luo's initiative of advancing mutual aid and efforts to boost development.

Diplomatic relations between Thailand and China started on July 1, 1975, with the Thai royal family, particularly Princess Sirindhorn, contributing a lot to the friendship. The princess who can speak fluent Chinese has toured China over the past few years with her first trip to Shanxi in 2000.

The delegation completed its trip across Shanxi on April 11.