Overview
- King Maha Vajiralongkorn arrived in Beijing, becoming the first reigning Thai monarch to undertake a state visit to China.
- He traveled at the invitation of President Xi Jinping for events marking 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975.
- The announced program includes meetings with Xi and Premier Li Qiang, visits to Lingguang Buddhist Temple and Beijing Aerospace City, and a state banquet, with Queen Suthida accompanying.
- China is Thailand’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $80 billion last year and growing Chinese investment in autos, infrastructure and energy.
- Recent reporting notes Beijing’s stronger footprint in Thai affairs, including pressure for crackdowns on cross‑border scams, opposition to casino legalization and the deportation of 40 Uyghurs earlier this year.