President Xi Jinping hosted King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of Thailand in Beijing on Friday, calling for joint efforts to further advance the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future.

He said Vajiralongkorn has taken China as the first major country to pay a state visit to and is the first Thai king to visit China since the establishment of diplomatic relations, which fully reflects the great importance attached to bilateral ties and the deep friendship characterised as "China and Thailand are as close as one family."

Xi also expressed condolences over the recent death of Queen Mother Sirikit and noted that the Thai royal family has a time-honoured relationship with China and has made important contributions to promoting friendship between the two countries.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the "Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship," the president said that over the past half-century, amid an ever-changing international landscape, China and Thailand have always worked together and supported each other, making the two countries good relatives, good friends and good partners.

Xi said that at this new historical starting point, he would like to work with Thailand's king to further advance construction of the China-Thailand community with a shared future over the next 50 years and jointly write a new chapter in China-Thailand friendship.

Beijing was looking forward to boosting agricultural imports from Thailand and advancing cooperation in fields such as railway development, artificial intelligence and aerospace, he said.

Vajiralongkorn described his country’s relationship with China as “brotherly cooperation” and expressed his desire to deepen exchanges in various areas.

The Thai royals were scheduled to visit a Buddhist temple and an aerospace development hub in Beijing, as well as attend a state banquet. (Xinhua/AP)