Chinese vice premier attends late Thai King's cremation ceremony

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As the special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli attended the royal cremation ceremony of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok on Thursday.

During the ceremony, Zhang expressed to Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn China's deep condolences and reverence to the late king and conveyed President Xi's best wishes to King Vajiralongkorn.

On behalf of President Xi, Zhang invited King Vajiralongkorn to visit China at an early date after his coronation.

Thai soldiers arrive to take part in a procession to transfer the relics and royal ashes of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej from the crematorium to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, October 27, 2017. /Reuters Photo‍

King Vajiralongkorn appreciated Zhang's attendance to the cremation ceremony as President Xi's special envoy, saying that he has visited China several times and would like to visit China again in the future.

King Bhumibol, who had reigned over Thailand for 70 years since 1946, was the longest reigning monarch in the world.

He died last October after he had been hospitalized for several years.

He was succeeded by his only son King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who was named crown prince in 1972.

A royal palanquin is carried by soldiers during a procession to transfer the royal relics and ashes of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej from the crematorium to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, October 27, 2017. /Reuters Photo

On Friday morning, Zhang met with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.

Zhang said beloved late King Bhumibol Adulyadej had made a great contribution to the development of Thailand and the improvement of the Thai people's livelihoods.

Hailing the late king as "a great friend of the Chinese people," Zhang said the traditional friendship between China and Thailand had deepened under the late king's support with bilateral cooperation forging ahead in various areas, bringing concrete benefits to both countries and both peoples.

China attaches great importance to the relations with Thailand and put Thailand as a priority of China's foreign policy with neighboring countries, said the vice premier.

China is willing to work with Thailand to enhance high-level exchanges and mutual political trust in order to push forward their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership toward new development, he said.

Zhang also briefed Somkid on the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), saying that, following the national congress, he believed the development of China will bring new opportunities to the development of Thailand, as well as to the relationship between the two countries.

Somkid told Zhang that his attendance of the cremation ceremony as President Xi's special envoy fully embodies China's attention to the bilateral ties with Thailand.

Thailand congratulated the successful conclusion of the 19th CPC National Congress, said Somkid, adding that his country has attached great importance to the ties with China.

Thailand is committed to strengthening strategic cooperation with China and consolidating synergy between Thailand's East Economic Corridor construction and China's Belt and Road Initiative, he said.

The royal ceremony for the late king lasted from Wednesday till Sunday, with the cremation held on Thursday.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency