On Wednesday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, describing her as an old friend and a good friend of the Chinese people, and acknowledged her outstanding contribution to China-Thailand friendship.
Wang Yi said that in 2025, marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand will pay his first state visit to China. During his visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping and King Vajiralongkorn reached an important consensus on advancing the building of a China-Thailand Community with a Shared Future, providing guidance for deepening bilateral relations.
Wang Yi noted that Sirindhorn has visited China 57 times over the past 45 years, traveling across the length and breadth of China. She is a witness to China’s reform and opening up as well as Chinese-style modernization, and also a pragmatic promoter of China–Thailand friendship.
Wang Yi described Sirindhorn as an old and good friend of the Chinese people, deeply dedicated to strengthening China–Thailand ties, making remarkable contributions. He also mentioned that Xi Jinping personally awarded her the 'Friendship Medal.'
Wang Yi also stated that this year marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). China is willing to work together with Thailand, upholding the important consensuses reached by the leaders of both countries, promoting traditional China–Thailand friendship, and strengthening cooperation with Thailand in high-tech, education, and livelihood fields that Her Royal Highness cares about, continuously sowing the seeds of friendship and advancing the building of a China–Thailand Community with a Shared Future to benefit the people.
The spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that at the invitation of the Chinese government, Princess Sirindhorn has been visiting China for eight days since last Saturday (April 4).
King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida made a five-day state visit to China in November last year. It was the first time a Thai King visited China in the 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, as well as Vajiralongkorn's first official overseas visit. On that occasion, Wang Yi went to the airport to welcome them.
According to BBC Chinese, although Thailand remains a U.S. military ally, its relationship with China has been steadily strengthening in recent years, while ties with Washington have become strained due to U.S. criticism of Thailand’s human rights record, tariff policies, and the widespread perception that the U.S. is no longer as committed to safeguarding Asian allies as before.