Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Friday that Sino-Thai relations are more than "strategic."

In an interview with Xinhua, Surayud said that he sees his upcoming visit to China, his first visit as Thai prime minister, as a sign China supports his government.

The Thai prime minister is scheduled to pay an official visit to China from Monday to Tuesday.

Surayud said his visit will enhance cooperation between the two countries in economic and trade issues, science and technology, and culture.

Although the two countries established diplomatic relations some 30 years ago, the friendly contact and exchanges between the two peoples date back to ancient times, he said.

Sino-Thai relations are built on the profound friendship between the two peoples, he added.

Their has been a boom in the number of Thai people learning Chinese, something the prime minister said showed "learning each other's language is of great importance for us to maintain frequent and friendly contacts."

The 64-year-old premier said that he is also learning Chinese, and has quite a few CDs and DVDs designed for foreign learners.

"But it is still very difficult for me, because I have not enough time, and I have no one to talk to, either," he said.

He said the signing of important agreements during his visit would establish the framework of broader and closer bilateral cooperation in the future.

"Sino-Thai relations are more than 'strategic', as there is a strong affinity between the two peoples, which is much more important than any kind of relationship in the future," said the Thai prime minister.

General Surayud Chulanont, who had been Supreme Commander of Thai Armed Forces and Privy Councilor, took office as Thailand's 24th prime minister on Oct. 1, 2006, after a military coup ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Sept. 19, 2006.

Source: Xinhua