Chinese FM meets Thai Princess Sirindhorn in Beijing

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand in Beijing on Monday.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and next year will usher in the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Both countries face new historical opportunities in their respective modernization developments and the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future, Wang said.

China has remained Thailand's largest trading partner for several consecutive years and has recently become the largest source of foreign investment in Thailand, Wang said, adding that mutual cooperation between the two sides is gaining momentum with enormous potential.

On the first day that the mutual visa exemption between China and Thailand went into effect, the number of arrivals in both countries combined exceeded 20,000, indicating great prospects for cultural exchanges, he noted.

Wang said Princess Sirindhorn's over 50 visits to China vividly depict the closeness between China and Thailand, playing a demonstrative and leading role in promoting friendship.

China cherishes its traditional friendship with the Thai royal family and is willing to work together with Thailand to implement the consensus reached at the highest levels of both countries, promoting continuous progress in building a China-Thailand community with a shared future, Wang said.

For her part, Princess Sirindhorn said the royal family values the friendship between Thailand and China. 

Thailand is ready to take the opportunity of next year's 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations to further strengthen practical cooperation with China in areas such as science and technology, agriculture, education, and others, continuously promoting mutual understanding and closeness between the peoples of the two countries, Princess Sirindhorn said.