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Wen returns ahead of schedule after summits canceled
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-11 20:46

PATTAYA -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao left Thailand for home Saturday afternoon ahead of schedule, after the Thai government postponed an Asian summit because of domestic political unrest.

Wen had been scheduled to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit and several related meetings, including a China-Japan-South Korea Breakfast Meeting.

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Thousands of anti-government protesters clashed at the summit site with police and broke into the media center on Saturday afternoon. Thailand's government then indefinitely postponed the summits.

During a phone conversation on Saturday, Wen told his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva that China's policies on deepening exchanges and cooperation with the ASEAN in various fields, helping member states overcome difficulties and pushing forward regional cooperation remain unchanged.

He said China attaches great importance to its relations with ASEAN and will steadfastly strengthen the friendly and mutual beneficial cooperation with ASEAN and support the ASEAN integration process.

China and ASEAN had planned to sign an investment agreement at their summit. The agreement, together with a 2004 goods agreement and a 2007 services agreement, would formally complete the China-ASEAN free trade area negotiation process.