BEIJING, Nov 15 (Xinhua) – Chinese President Xi Jinping met with King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of the Kingdom of Thailand in Beijing, capital of China, on Friday, calling for joint efforts to further advance the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future.
Xi said the king has made China the first major country for his state visit and thus becomes the first king of Thailand to visit China since the establishment of diplomatic relations, which fully demonstrates the great importance he attaches to China-Thailand relations and the deep friendship characterized as “China and Thailand are as close as one family.”
Xi expressed condolences over the recent passing of Queen Mother Sirikit and noted that the Thai royal family has historically profound relations with China and has made important contributions to promoting friendship between the two countries, which China deeply appreciates.
Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the “Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship,” Xi said that over the past half-century, amid an ever-changing international landscape, China and Thailand have always worked hand in hand and helped each other, and have truly been good relatives, good friends and good partners.
Xi said that at this new historical starting point, he would like to work with King Vajiralongkorn to further advance building the China-Thailand community with a shared future over the next 50 years and jointly write a new chapter in China-Thailand friendship.
Xi pointed out that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China deliberated over and adopted the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, which mainly focuses on advancing high-quality development and expanding high-standard opening up.
Thailand is also at a critical stage of its national development and revitalization, Xi said, adding that China is ready to enhance strategic synergy with Thailand, steadily advance cooperation on major projects such as the China-Thailand railway, increase imports of Thailand’s high-quality agricultural products, and expand cooperation in emerging areas including artificial intelligence, digital economy, aviation and aerospace, so that more cooperation benefits can be delivered to both peoples.
It is important to strengthen cultural connectivity, promote people-to-people exchanges, and bring the two peoples closer through more visits, Xi said, noting that China stands ready to actively support public welfare programs of the Thai royal family, increase exchanges on poverty alleviation experience, and help Thailand improve the well-being of its people.
The Thai king said it is a great pleasure to pay a state visit to China, adding that it has been many years since his last visit to China, and tremendous changes have taken place in this country which is now modern and beautiful.
The king expressed congratulations on China’s significant achievements in economic and social development. Thailand and China have close friendship, extensive people-to-people exchanges, and broad-based, in-depth and mutually beneficial cooperation, he said, adding that the cooperation between Thailand and China is cooperation between brothers.
Thailand would like to learn from China’s development experience, expand cooperation with China across various fields, and strengthen people-to-people ties, so that the Thailand-China friendship will have deeper root in the hearts of our peoples, the Thai king said.
Prior to the meeting, Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, held a welcoming ceremony for the Thai king and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana at the square outside the Eastern Entrance of the Great Hall of the People.
As King Vajiralongkorn arrived, a guard of honor lined up in salutation. Xi and the Thai king stepped onto a stand, after which a military band played the national anthem of China and the royal anthem of Thailand as a 21-gun salute was fired in Tiananmen Square. The Thai king reviewed the guard of honor of the People’s Liberation Army and watched the march-past in Xi’s company.
Xi and Peng hosted a welcoming banquet for the Thai king and the queen in the evening.
