Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged closer ties with Thailand during the first-ever visit to China by a reigning Thai monarch.

According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Xi on Friday described the two countries as “family”, and told the royals his country would “strengthen strategic alignment” with the Southeast Asian nation.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who has rarely made overseas state visits since he ascended the throne nine years ago, is in Beijing with his wife, Queen Suthida, for his first official visit to China.

Xi said cooperation would be expanded on a China-Thailand railway link as well as in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, aerospace and the digital economy.

“King Vajiralongkorn’s choice of China as his first major country for a state visit … fully demonst

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