POLITICS
''I am Li Samak,'' Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej told Chinese reporters before he began his visit to Beijing on Monday.
Mr Samak used his Chinese surname to show he belonged to the millions of Thai citizens whose ethnic origins lie in China, including former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and many other top officials.
Historical ties between Thailand and China could be traced back more than 600 years, and ''long-term cooperation and exchanges are even stronger today,'' the Chinese government's official Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.
''It was 227 years ago when my ancestors from China settled in Thailand, and I still carry out some Chinese family rituals, such as presenting offerings before ancestors' tombs,'' Mr Samak said.
Thais probably knew more about China than any other country, he said, highlighting Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who travels to China regularly and speaks fluent Chinese.
Mr Samak said he was ''impressed by the great economic changes and achievements'' of China since he first visited the country more than 20 years ago.
China's experience in urban infrastructure and many other fields ''set good examples for Thailand,'' the agency quoted him as saying.
He echoed the Chinese government in saying the recent unrest in Tibet was ''China's internal affair'' and opposed moves to politicise or boycott the Beijing Olympics.
Mr Samak and Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn are due to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Aug 8.
Yesterday, the prime minister and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised to expand political and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Mr Samak and Mr Wen agreed to encourage mutual investment in infrastructure and related areas, and expand cooperation in culture, education, health, agriculture and defence, China Central Television reported.
Mr Samak's talks in Beijing were expected to focus on cooperation in urban infrastructure, defence and regional transportation, the agency said.
The Chinese government would offer help to Thailand in ''advancing ammunition technology,'' and the two sides would sign a contract worth about 10 billion yuan (40 billion baht) for export of Chinese machinery products.
Thailand expected to seal more agreements on exports of Thai fruit to China.
Mr Samak will also visit Beijing's ''Bird's Nest'' stadium and other sites built to host the Olympic Games and will become an honorary professor at the Beijing University of Linguistic and Cultural Studies.
He will fly on Thursday to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, completing his visits to the 10 capitals of the Asean, since being named prime minister on Jan 28.
It is common etiquette for new Thai premiers to visit their Southeast Asian neighbours before going farther afield.
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