国内英语新闻:China, Thailand to hold talks on visa exemption

BANGKOK, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to hold talks with Thailand over visa exemption for regular passport holders, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang here on Friday.

Li made the announcement while delivering a speech at the Thai Parliament shortly after he arrived in the Southeast Asian nation for an official visit.

"There is an old Chinese saying that goes: the more exchanges among relatives, the warmer their relations will become," said Li.

Visa exemption would facilitate the people-to-people and cultural exchanges of the two countries, and bring more benefits to the two peoples, Li said.

Thailand is the first country within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to start such talks with China.

China is now the largest source of foreign visitors to Thailand, with Chinese visitors to the country topping 2.8 million person-times last year.

While in Thailand, Li is scheduled to meet the Thai royal family and leaders of the government and the parliament for an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties as well as on regional and global issues of common concern.

Before his arrival in Bangkok, Li has just wrapped up a tightly-scheduled visit to Brunei, where he also attended a series of summits with East Asian leaders.