Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed Beijing’s readiness to align development strategies with Thailand for “greater progress” in bilateral ties during a meeting with King Maha Vajiralongkorn in Beijing on Friday. Speaking at the Great Hall of the People, Xi described the two nations as “genuine good relatives, friends and partners,” according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“China is willing to strengthen strategic alignment with Thailand,” Xi said, highlighting potential synergies between China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Thailand’s development agenda. He added that Beijing is prepared to import more Thai agricultural products and work with Bangkok to “steadily” advance major infrastructure projects, including the China-Thailand railway, while expanding collaboration in artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and aerospace.
Xi also pledged support for the Thai royal family’s charitable initiatives and expressed a willingness to share China’s poverty reduction experience.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn described the bilateral cooperation as being “between brothers” and affirmed Thailand’s readiness to learn from China’s development experience, enhance cooperation across multiple sectors, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges.
The state visit, which began Thursday and will run through Monday, marks the first trip to China by a Thai monarch since the two countries established diplomatic ties 50 years ago. Both Beijing and Bangkok hailed the visit as “historic,” coinciding with the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations, celebrated as a “golden jubilee.”
“Standing at a new historical starting point, I look forward to working with King Maha Vajiralongkorn to advance the China-Thailand community with a shared future and achieve greater progress in the next 50 years,” Xi said.
Before the meeting, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcoming ceremony for the king and Queen Suthida. During the five-day visit, the royal couple will tour institutions showcasing China’s achievements in science, technology, innovation, and education, as well as cultural and religious sites in Beijing.
China has been Thailand’s largest trading partner for 12 consecutive years up to 2024. While Bangkok maintains a treaty partnership with Washington, it has deepened cooperation with Beijing in the security sector, including a joint air force exercise in September.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn previously visited China four times as crown prince, in 1987, 1988, 1992, and 1998. His last meeting with Xi took place in Bangkok in 2022. His predecessor, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, did not visit China.
Thailand’s royal family has historically strengthened ties with China through the king’s younger sister, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who has been recognized as an “old friend of the Chinese people.” She received a Friendship Medal from Xi in 2019 for her contributions to Sino-Thai relations.
China’s top envoy to Thailand, Zhang Jianwei, told People’s Daily Online that bilateral ties are “at their best in history” and go beyond the bilateral scope, reflecting “broad common interests and similar positions” in regional and international affairs. He also noted Beijing’s support for a peaceful resolution of the Thai-Cambodian border dispute via the ASEAN framework.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s visit also aims to reassure China about tourist safety in Thailand, following incidents involving fraud syndicates, human trafficking, and the high-profile kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing earlier this year.
