Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn arrived in Beijing on Thursday for his first state visit to China, marking a historic milestone in bilateral relations. The monarch, accompanied by Queen Suthida, was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975.
During the visit, King Vajiralongkorn is scheduled to meet with President Xi and Premier Li Qiang, visit the Lingguang Buddhist Temple and Beijing Aerospace City, and attend a state banquet hosted by the Chinese leader. Bangkok stated that the visit “underlines the deep-rooted friendship and mutual understanding shared between Thailand and China at all levels.”
Former Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag, who also served as ambassador to Beijing, remarked, “Thailand and China share a special bond, we see them as siblings and they see us as family.” China is Thailand's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $80 billion last year. Chinese investments have expanded in sectors such as automobiles, infrastructure, and energy.
The two nations are also linked by centuries of migration, with many influential Thai business and political families tracing their roots to Chinese ancestors. Since ascending the throne in 2016, King Vajiralongkorn has made only one other foreign trip—to Bhutan earlier this year.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning highlighted the significance of the visit, stating, “China is the first major country which His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn officially visits. This fully demonstrates the great importance that the two sides attach to growing bilateral relations.” The visit comes just weeks after the death of the king's mother.
Analysts noted that China had long sought a Thai royal visit, as the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej never travelled to Beijing during his seven-decade reign. International relations scholar Sitthiphon Kruarattikan of Thammasat University commented, “To have a reigning Thai monarch visiting, this is what the Chinese wanted.” Although no reigning Thai monarch had previously visited China, the royal family has helped nurture ties, particularly through Princess Sirindhorn, who studied Chinese language and art for over 45 years.
