NANNING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont arrived here on Monday morning to attend a China-ASEAN summit slated for Monday afternoon in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

    The summit is to mark the 15th anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue relations. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will hold bilateral meetings with the leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) respectively on the sidelines of the summit.

    According to the Chinese State Foreign Ministry, the summit will see Chinese and ASEAN leaders sign a joint statement, which is hailed as "a road map, a plan of action, a blueprint" for future China-ASEAN cooperation.

    It is the first visit to China for Surayud since he assumed the post of Interim Prime Minister of Thailand earlier this month.

    Thailand, with a population of over 63 million, is the world's leading rubber producer. Trade volume between China and Thailand hit 2.18 million U.S. dollars last year, making China the third largest trading partner of Thailand.

    The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont (L) receives a bouquet upon his arrival at the airport in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Oct. 30, 2006. Surayud Chulanont came here to attend the China-ASEAN Commemorative Summit marking the 15th anniversary of the establishment of Dialogue Relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which is scheduled to be held from Oct. 30 to 31. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>