Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand is undertaking a historic state visit to China from Thursday to Monday at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The visit has drawn attention from media worldwide due to its significance in China-Thailand relations.
This marks the first official visit by a reigning Thai monarch to China since diplomatic ties were established in 1975. The royal family has historically promoted bilateral engagement, with Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visiting China over 50 times and receiving the Friendship Medal.
Since ascending the throne in 2016, King Vajiralongkorn has made only one official trip abroad, highlighting China as his first major state visit. The occasion coincides with the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations, symbolizing a golden jubilee of enduring friendship.
Experts note that the relationship, often described as “as close as one family,” has been consistently strengthened by pragmatic cooperation. Despite political shifts in Thailand, both nations have maintained strong collaboration across security, economy, and cultural exchanges.
Thailand has been a key ASEAN partner, implementing the first free trade agreement with China, participating in joint security exercises, and promoting cultural and people-to-people ties. The King’s visit also signals to the region China’s reliability as a neighbor and partner.
The itinerary includes visits to Beijing Aerospace City and the Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics, reflecting ambitions to expand cooperation in aerospace, AI, digital economy, and green technology. These initiatives align with Thailand’s “Thailand 4.0” development strategy and China’s technological expertise.
The historic state visit reinforces China and Thailand’s commitment to mutual respect, win-win collaboration, and shared development, elevating bilateral ties to a new level and offering a model for regional cooperation.
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