On 22 August 2011, Mr. Zhang Zhijun, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China and the Special Envoy of the Chinese Government, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Minster of Foreign Affairs, to underscore the great importance that China has attached to Thai-Chinese relations and to discuss means to enhance the cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, national defense, culture and education as well as a leading role for Thailand-China in the framework of ASEAN-China.