By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

Thailand has affirmed its neutral stance in the China and Japan conflict over the disputed islands as the kingdom has enjoyed long good relations with both countries and wants to see a peaceful outcome to the conflicts, Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said.

Mr Surapong on Wednesday held separate talks with Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Yucheng who is visiting Thailand September 16-21 and Osaka prefecture Governor Ichiro Matsui who is on a business trip to Thailand.

The Thai minister told Le Yuchang that Thailand was worried over the tensions between the two countries.

He affirmed that Thailand was impartial in the conflict because it has long and strong ties with both China and Japan. However, Thailand wished the two sides could find a peaceful solution as soon as possible because it did not want to see any violence erupt.

The minister said that the Thai consulate in Guangzhou is located in the same hotel as the Japanese Consulate.

The China and Japan row would not affect Thailand, the minister said, adding that he has warned Thais in Guangzhou and Shenzhen to be cautious and avoid any anti-Japan gatherings of Chinese people.

China and Japan are involved in a territorial dispute over a small group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea — known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China — which led to protests in many provinces in China.

Mr Surapong said he discussed trade and investment with the Osaka Governor and his entourage.

He said Japanese business people want to invest in Myanmar via Thailand and he has proposed that the Japanese investors consider Thailand as a SME products distribution centre for ASEAN.