King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of Thailand arrived in Beijing on Thursday to begin a historic five-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The king, who is being accompanied by his wife Queen Suthida, was greeted at the airport by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
This is the first visit to China by a Thai Monarch since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1975.
During the visit, President Xi and Premier Li Qiang will meet with King Maha Vajiralongkorn separately to discuss bilateral ties and other issues of shared interest.
China is the first major country that King Maha Vajiralongkorn is paying an official visit to since ascending the throne in 2016, which fully reflects the great importance both countries attach to developing bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said while announcing the king's trip a week ago.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Thailand diplomatic relations and "the Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship."
China has remained Thailand's largest trading partner for many years, and it is also the Southeast Asian nation's second-largest export market and destination for over 40 percent of its agricultural exports.
Thai king arrives in Beijing for historic state visit
After the devastating fire at the housing complex Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the central government, Hong Kong authorities, and people from across China have joined forces in a massive outpouring of relief and support.
The blaze, the deadliest Hong Kong had witnessed for decades, broke out at around 14:50 on Nov 26 at the eight-towered residential estate Wang Fuk Court, which was under renovation, in Tai Po district. The fire quickly engulfed seven of the towers, leaving at least 159 dead, 79 injured and thousands of families homeless.
According to the latest official update, the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, established by the HKSAR government, has received 3 billion Hong Kong dollars in external donations. Together with the HKSAR government's start-up capital of 300 million Hong Kong dollars, the fund stands at around 3.3 billion Hong Kong dollars in total. It will be used to help residents rebuild their homes and provide long-term support.
Following the fire, the HKSAR government has made comprehensive, multi-tiered rescue and resettlement efforts.
On the night of the blaze, the government promptly established temporary shelters at multiple locations across Tai Po district, coordinating accommodations in youth hostels, hotels, and transitional housing for affected residents. Emergency subsidies and living allowances were distributed to those impacted, while support was also provided through a "one household, one social worker" mechanism.
People from across Hong Kong have joined volunteer efforts, hoping to bring warmth to the wounded community, with donated supplies such as clothing, food, drinking water continuously arriving at temporary shelters.
Many taxi drivers have also volunteered to provide free rides.
"We work here from 08:00 in the morning to past 22:00 at night. We only leave when there are no passengers. That's how it is. It does affect earnings a bit. It definitely has an impact. But that's not important. The most important thing is to help others first," said Wong Chi-chuen, a taxi driver .
At the request of the HKSAR government, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council has coordinated the Ministry of Emergency Management to provide batches of supplies for the Tai Po fire relief effort, including portable outdoor charging stations, heavy-duty conveyors, blowers, respirators, goggles, protective suits, headlamps, and waterproof boots.
Mainland companies and residents, and various sectors in Macao also provided support following the devastating fire in Hong Kong, donating funds and supplies for emergency relief and post-disaster recovery.
"A large amount of supplies was collected and delivered to our disaster-stricken areas in a very short time. It made me realize what it means to be bound by blood. Because this kind of bond runs deep. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone," said Peter Lam, chairman of Tai Po Rural Committee.
Support from across China pours in after devastating fire in Hong Kong
