King Maha Vajiralongkorn has become the first reigning monarch of Thailand to pay an official visit to the People’s Republic of China. The trip is being made at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and is timed to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. reports the BBC.
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn arrived in China on November 12, becoming the first reigning monarch of his country to ever visit Beijing. Xi Jinping invited him to jointly celebrate the establishment of diplomatic ties between Thailand and China, which were established in 1975. The Thai government said the visit “underlines the deep friendship and mutual understanding at all levels.”
During their stay in Beijing, the King and Queen of Thailand will visit several cultural and scientific institutions. Xi Jinping and his wife will also host a state banquet in honor of the Thai royal family.
The visit was Vajrayanalongkorn’s first major foreign trip since he ascended to the throne nine years ago. Although Thailand remains a nominal military ally of the United States, its cooperation with China has significantly strengthened, the publication notes. Trade with China now exceeds trade with the United States, and Chinese arms suppliers are increasingly becoming competitors to American ones. At the same time, relations with Washington are complicated by criticism of the human rights situation in Thailand and tariff disputes related to the policies of US President Donald Trump.
In addition, China and Thailand have long-standing cultural and historical ties. A significant part of the Thai population is of Chinese origin, so in Beijing these relations are often called “brotherly”.
