Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn arrived in China on Wednesday, marking the first-ever visit by a reigning Thai monarch to the country.
The royal visit, made at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China in 1975. Chinese officials are believed to have sought this visit for several years as a symbol of deepening ties between the two nations.
In a statement, the Thai government said the visit “underlines the deep-rooted friendship and mutual understanding shared between Thailand and China at all levels.”
During their stay in Beijing, King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida are scheduled to visit key sites including the Lingguang Buddhist Temple and the Beijing Aerospace City. President Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan will also host a state banquet in their honor.
This marks the king’s first major state visit since ascending the throne nine years ago. Earlier this year, he made a rare overseas trip to Bhutan. His father, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, made several notable foreign visits, including a landmark trip to the United States in the 1960s when Thailand was a close ally of Washington during the Cold War.
Although Thailand remains a formal military ally of the US, its relationship with China has grown increasingly close in recent years — both economically and militarily. Beijing is now Thailand’s largest trading partner and a major supplier of defense equipment.
Cultural and familial ties between the two countries also run deep, with many Thais tracing their ancestry to Chinese immigrants. China often describes the bilateral relationship as one of “brotherhood” and “family.”
However, the growing closeness has sometimes raised concerns. Earlier this year, Thai authorities deported 40 Uyghur asylum seekers to China despite warnings from the United States. In August, a Bangkok art exhibition featuring Uyghur and Tibetan artists was censored following complaints from Chinese diplomats.
China’s influence has also shaped Thailand’s domestic policy — including efforts to crack down on scam operations near the Myanmar border and to block proposals such as legalizing casinos.
Despite King Vajiralongkorn’s lack of previous visits, the Thai royal family has long supported strong relations with China, notably through his sister Princess Sirindhorn, who has studied Chinese language and culture for over four decades and frequently visits the country.
