China’s President Xi Jinping hosted Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn in Beijing in the first visit by a reigning Thai monarch, marking 50 years of diplomatic ties. Leaders pledged deeper cooperation on trade and technology — including agriculture, railways, AI and aerospace. The trip, the king’s second foreign visit since 2016, underscores closer ties with China even as Thailand maintains U.S. security links. Controversial moves, such as deporting 40 Uyghurs and censoring an art exhibition, reflect growing Thai accommodation of Beijing’s priorities.
Historic Beijing Visit: Xi and Thailand’s King Pledge Closer Economic and Strategic Ties
Historic Visit Strengthens China–Thailand Relationship
Beijing — China’s President Xi Jinping and Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn pledged closer ties on Friday during the first visit to China by a reigning Thai monarch. The trip coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, welcomed King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida at the Great Hall of the People. According to state media Xinhua, Xi described China and Thailand as “truly good relatives, good friends and good partners.”
Beijing said it hopes to boost agricultural imports from Thailand and expand cooperation in sectors including railway construction, artificial intelligence and aerospace. The king described the relationship as “brotherly cooperation” and said he wanted to deepen exchanges across multiple fields.
The royal couple was scheduled to visit a Buddhist temple and an aerospace development complex in Beijing, and to attend a state banquet.
Beyond ceremony, the visit has strategic significance: it was the king’s second official foreign trip since ascending the throne in 2016 (after a visit to Bhutan in April), signaling a recent warming of ties with Beijing. Though Thailand remains a formal military ally of the United States, China is now its largest trading partner and an increasingly important source of military equipment.
Chinese investment in Thailand has accelerated as many Chinese firms relocate production to Southeast Asia to avoid U.S. tariffs. The strengthening relationship has also sparked controversy: earlier this year Thai authorities deported 40 Uyghur asylum-seekers to China, drawing criticism from the United States; in August, a Bangkok exhibition featuring Tibetan, Uyghur and Hong Kong artists was reportedly censored after complaints by Chinese diplomats. China has additionally urged Thailand and neighboring countries to crack down on cross-border cyber scams.
Analysts say the visit is part of Beijing’s broader effort to deepen economic and strategic ties in Southeast Asia, while Thailand seeks to balance its historic security relationship with the U.S. against growing commercial and political engagement with China.
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