PHUKET: China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin arrived on Phuket today at the start of a six-day official goodwill visit to Thailand as guest of Thai Senate.
Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha was among officials who greeted Jia at Phuket International Airport.
Jia made a speech and said he will meet extensively with the Thai royal family, government, parliament and people from all walks of life and have in-depth exchanges of views with them on issues of mutual interest.
Phuket is becoming an increasingly popular destination with Chinese tourists. Jia told official China media that he hoped the two countries can further consolidate and deepen the traditional friendship, bring more benefits to the people, and make greater contribution to stability and prosperity in Asia.
Exchanges are becoming more frequent. Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra made her first visit to Beijing just this week.
Virtually at the same time that Governor Tri was greeting Jia at Phuket airport, a delegation from the Chinese city of Xi'an was meeting Phuket Vice Governor Dr Sommai Preechasin at Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
The delegates were seeking a cultural exchange and perhaps the twinnng of Phuket with Xi'an, famous for its preserved armies of terracotta warriors, dating back more than 2000 years.
Coincidentally, Phuket is playing host to Amway China, with more than 15,000 personnel visiting for a holiday seminar between mid-April and mid-May that is expected to boost tourism from China to Phuket still further.
China recently took over from Australia as the source of the largest number of tourists. Moves are being made to shift the China consulate from Had Yai to Phuket as soon as a suitable property can be found.
China and Phuket share part of the history of the region when traders came in vast numbers and married local brides in Baba weddings.
Phuket's annual Vegetarian Festival presents Chinese visitors with a remarkably well-preserved piece of Chinese culture. Similar festivals in China were stamped out in the most repressive period of communist history.
At a more practical level, several Chinese engineering firms have placed bids for the light rail or tram network from Phuket airport to southern Phuket, via Phuket City.
Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha was among officials who greeted Jia at Phuket International Airport.
Jia made a speech and said he will meet extensively with the Thai royal family, government, parliament and people from all walks of life and have in-depth exchanges of views with them on issues of mutual interest.
Phuket is becoming an increasingly popular destination with Chinese tourists. Jia told official China media that he hoped the two countries can further consolidate and deepen the traditional friendship, bring more benefits to the people, and make greater contribution to stability and prosperity in Asia.
Exchanges are becoming more frequent. Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra made her first visit to Beijing just this week.
Virtually at the same time that Governor Tri was greeting Jia at Phuket airport, a delegation from the Chinese city of Xi'an was meeting Phuket Vice Governor Dr Sommai Preechasin at Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
The delegates were seeking a cultural exchange and perhaps the twinnng of Phuket with Xi'an, famous for its preserved armies of terracotta warriors, dating back more than 2000 years.
Coincidentally, Phuket is playing host to Amway China, with more than 15,000 personnel visiting for a holiday seminar between mid-April and mid-May that is expected to boost tourism from China to Phuket still further.
China recently took over from Australia as the source of the largest number of tourists. Moves are being made to shift the China consulate from Had Yai to Phuket as soon as a suitable property can be found.
China and Phuket share part of the history of the region when traders came in vast numbers and married local brides in Baba weddings.
Phuket's annual Vegetarian Festival presents Chinese visitors with a remarkably well-preserved piece of Chinese culture. Similar festivals in China were stamped out in the most repressive period of communist history.
At a more practical level, several Chinese engineering firms have placed bids for the light rail or tram network from Phuket airport to southern Phuket, via Phuket City.
