On April 22, 2013, Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), held talks with visiting President of the Thai National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives Somsak Kitasuranont at the Great Hall of the People.

Zhang said Sino-Thai friendship goes back to ancient times with the healthy development of bilateral relations. The Thai royal family, government and National Assembly attach importance to relations with China. Zhang expressed appreciation to Thailand for its support on major issues of China's core interests. "China will stick to the route of peaceful development and pursue a friendly, good-neighborly policy toward its neighbors," Zhang said, adding China places importance on expanding its relations with Thailand. He said the two sides should continuously step up strategic coordination, take care of each other's concerns and enhance mutual trust. Zhang urged the two sides to explore new growth areas in economic cooperation by rapidly expanding trade and investment so that the outcome of cooperation will better benefit both peoples. He said the two countries should strengthen people-to-people and cultural contact by encouraging younger generations to deepen mutual understanding and carry forward the China-Thailand traditional friendship. Zhang said the two sides should have even closer cooperation on regional and international issues. He called for the two sides to jointly advance the China-ASEAN relationship and East Asia cooperation to make positive contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.

Zhang briefed on the system of the National People's Congress and the 1st Session of the 12th National People's Congress. He said exchanges between the NPC and the NAT, as top legislatures of China and Thailand respectively, have played an important role in advancing bilateral ties, the friendship, development of democratic and legal systems in each country and realization of their development goals. He said the NPC is ready to further develop the friendly ties with the NAT so as to advance the comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership between the two nations. He called for the legislatures of the two countries to increase multi-level, multi-channel exchanges, learn from each other's experience on state governance, economic development and improvement of people's livelihood and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Somsak expressed condolence to China over the loss of lives and properties caused by the earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province, for which Zhang expressed thanks. He said Thailand-China relations are currently at their best in history and bilateral friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of both peoples. Somsak said Thailand is ready to work with China to carry out more substantial cooperation in investment, infrastructure, culture and language so as to inject inexhaustible impetus into bilateral friendship. He said the NAT is ready to make fresh contributions to advancing bilateral relations between the two countries.