In 2013, the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Thailand continued to deepen.
High-level mutual visits were frequent. In October, Premier Li Keqiang paid an official visit to Thailand, during which he met with the Thai royal family and leaders of the government and the parliament, and had extensive engagement with friendly people from various sectors. In November, CPPCC Vice Chairman Liu Xiaofeng visited Thailand. Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Thailand in May and attended the China-ASEAN High-level Forum held in Thailand in August. In April and October, H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Srindhorn paid two visits to China. In March, September and December, H.R.H. Princess Chulaphorn paid three visits to China and participated in the Sixth "China and Thailand: Two Lands, One Heart" concert. In September, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra attended the 10th China-ASEAN Expo in China. In April, Somsak Kiatsuranont, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives, visited China. In January, Nikom Wairatpanij, Vice President of the National Assembly and President of the Senate, paid an official visit to China. Also from Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasob Suraswadee, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Phongthep Thepkanjana, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Surapong Tovichakchaikul visited China or attended conferences in China.
Cooperation in various sectors continued to proceed forward. The two governments issued the Long-term Program on the Development of China- Thailand Relations. Competent authorities of the two countries signed cooperation documents in economy and trade, science and technology, education, maritime cooperation, energy and other sectors. Bilateral trade continued to grow. China was Thailand's second largest trading partner, and Thailand was China's second largest among ASEAN countries. Cultural exchanges were increasingly close, and personnel visits were frequent at various levels. The two sides reached agreement on a new round of cooperation on the giant panda. After the severe earthquake in Lushan, Sichuan Province, the Thai government and and H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Srindhorn donated RMB1 million and RMB200,000 respectively to China.
The two countries maintained close collaboration in regional and international cooperation mechanisms such as the United Nations, APEC, 10+1 (ASEAN+China), 10+3 (ASEAN+China, Japan and the ROK) and Asia Cooperation Dialogue.