Chinese premier congratulates Thailand's new PM

BEIJING, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday congratulated Yingluck Shinawatra on her election as Thailand's new prime minister.

In a message, Wen said: "On behalf of the Chinese Government and in my own name, I wish to extend to Your Excellency the warmest congratulations and best wishes."

Saying that China and Thailand were "friendly and close neighbours", Wen said the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Thai peoples had a long history.

"The exchanges and cooperation between our two countries in a whole range of fields has been deepening in a comprehensive manner, ever since the establishment of diplomatic relationship between our two countries 36 years ago," Wen said.

The development of relations between China and Thailand "has substantially benefited the two countries and the two peoples, and has also contributed to peace, stability and prosperity of the region," he said.

Shinawatra, 44, is the sister of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and is a member of her brother's Pheu Thai party.

Pheu Thai won a landslide victory with 265 out of the 500 parliamentary seats in the general election on July 3 and it has formed a coalition government with four small parties, giving it control of about 60 percent of the lower house seats. Shinawatra won the backing of 296 lawmakers in the vote for prime minister.