BEIJING — Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand arrived in Beijing on November 13, where they were warmly welcomed by senior Chinese officials at the start of a historic state visit to the People’s Republic of China.
The royal couple were greeted at Beijing Capital International Airport by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his spouse, along with Assistant Foreign Minister and Chief of Protocol Hong Lei. A young Chinese boy and girl presented floral bouquets to Their Majesties before they reviewed an honor guard.
Following the welcome ceremony, the King and Queen traveled to the China World Hotel in Beijing, which has been arranged by the Chinese government as their official residence during the visit.
Their Majesties departed Bangkok earlier in the day aboard a special Thai Airways flight, TG 8886, from Don Mueang Royal Thai Air Force Base. The visit, taking place from November 13 to 17, was made at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China.
According to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit aims to strengthen the close and enduring friendship between the two nations and promote deeper understanding between their peoples.
In celebration of this milestone, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Zhang Jianwei published an article titled “Carrying Forward the China-Thailand Friendship and Writing a New Chapter in History.” He wrote that the Thai monarchs’ visit represents a new milestone in bilateral relations, underscoring mutual trust and shared aspirations for prosperity under the “China–Thailand Community with a Shared Future.”
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Carrying Forward the China-Thailand Friendship and Writing a New Chapter in History
By Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Zhang Jienwei
A t the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Their Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana will pay a state visit to China from November 13 to 17. This is the first visit of the King of Thailand to China since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
China is the first major country which His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn officially visits. This fully demonstrates the great importance that the highest leader of Thailand attaches to growing bilateral relations.
The close exchanges between the leaders of the two countries have guided the healthy and stable development of China-Thailand relations. The Thai Royal Family has long cared for and supported the friendship between the two nations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand in 1975, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej met with visiting Chinese leaders, including Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao.
In 1978, during his visit to Thailand, Vice Premier of China’s State Council Deng Xiaoping attended the tonsure ceremony of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn upon invitation, fully reflecting the high importance the leaders of both countries placed on China-Thailand relations.
In 2000, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit visited China on behalf of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. From 1987 to 1998, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn visited China four times, meeting with multiple Chinese leaders and traveling to more than 10 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, including Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Xinjiang, and Xizang.
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn has visited China over 50 times, making her a close friend of the Chinese people and a distinguished envoy of China-Thailand friendship. President Xi Jinping personally conferred upon her China’s Friendship Medal.
Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn has traveled to China on multiple occasions to host the “China and Thailand Are as Close as One Family” music and dance galas, where she performed the Guzheng herself, and has actively promoted cooperation in science, technology and other fields between the two countries. With sincere affection and proactive efforts, the Thai Royal Family has continuously strengthened strategic mutual trust and fostered deeper people-to-people ties between the two nations.
The strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries has steered and set the direction for China-Thailand relations in the new era. In 2011, then Vice President of China Xi Jinping made an official visit to Thailand.
In 2012, China and Thailand established a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. On the occasions of King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s accession to the throne in 2016 and his coronation in 2019, President Xi Jinping sent messages of congratulations, expressing willingness to work together with the King to advance bilateral relations to new heights.
In 2022, President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to Thailand, and was warmly received by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana. The leaders of the two countries jointly elevated bilateral relations into a new phase of building a community with a shared future that is more stable, more prosperous and more sustainable.
Since 2024, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations and the “Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship,” King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana have graciously accepted invitations to attend important celebratory events such as the China-Thailand Ice Hockey Friendship Match and the ceremony to host the sacred Buddha’s tooth relic from Beijing’s Lingguang Temple in Thailand.
It is under the steadfast support for China-Thailand friendship from the Thai Royal Family that bilateral relations have consistently maintained a high level of performance and the sentiment of “China and Thailand are as close as one family” has become increasingly deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
The personal commitment of the leaders of both countries has set the course for the steady and sustained growth of China-Thailand relations in the years to come. In October this year, King Maha Vajiralongkorn sent a message to President Xi Jinping, congratulating him on the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and expressing that at this new historical starting point of Thailand-China relations, he looks forward to continuing close cooperation with China to deepen and substantiate bilateral collaboration across various fields.
During the recent meeting with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, President Xi Jinping remarked that China and Thailand are good neighbors, good friends, good relatives, and good partners, whose frequent interactions reflect the closeness of one family. Standing at this new beginning in bilateral relations, both sides should build on past achievements and forge ahead into the future, working together to advance the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future with greater depth and substance. This will contribute to the modernization processes of both countries and make greater contributions to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.
Today, the Chinese government and people are eagerly anticipating the visit of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana to China. This is not only an important diplomatic event but also another markable milestone in China-Thailand relationship.
China looks forward to yielding more fruitful outcomes in building a China-Thailand community with a shared future, composing a new chapter in bilateral friendship, and steering the relationship toward a more glorious 50-years to come.”
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