Xi calls for advancing community with shared future when meeting Thai king

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

Xi said the king 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 China-Thailand relations and the deep friendship characterized as "China and Thailand are as close as one family."

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

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the "Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship," Xi 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.

Xi said that the fourth plenary session of 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) adopted the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, which will focus on promoting high-quality development and expanding high-standard opening up.

As Thailand is also at a critical stage of national development and revitalization, Xi said that China is willing to work with Thailand to step up coordination of the two countries' development strategies, steadily advance cooperation on the China-Thailand Railway and other major projects, import more high-quality agricultural products from Thailand, and expand bilateral cooperation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, as well as aviation and aerospace, so as to help the people of the two countries gain more tangible benefits from bilateral cooperation.

Xi called for efforts in strengthening cultural interaction and people-to-people exchanges between China and Thailand and in fostering increasingly closer ties between the two peoples.

Xi said that China is ready to actively support the Thai royal family's public welfare projects, enhance poverty reduction experience sharing, and assist Thailand in improving the people's wellbeing.

For his part, King Vajiralongkorn said he is glad to pay a state visit to China, and that China has achieved great changes since his last visit years ago, and displays a brand new look of a modernized and beautiful country, expressing congratulations to China on its major achievements in economic and social development.

King Vajiralongkorn said Thailand and China enjoy friendship with close people-to-people exchanges as well as extensive and in-depth mutually beneficial cooperation.

Noting the cooperation between Thailand and China is a kind of cooperation between brothers, King Maha Vajiralongkorn said that Thailand is willing to actively learn from China's development experience, expand cooperation with China in various fields, intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and let the bilateral friendship take deeper roots among the people.

Xi calls for advancing community with shared future when meeting Thai king

Xi calls for advancing community with shared future when meeting Thai king

Xi calls for advancing community with shared future when meeting Thai king

Xi calls for advancing community with shared future when meeting Thai king

A breathtaking sea of tulips are now in full bloom in Zhumadian City, central China's Henan Province, painting the landscape with vibrant colors and drawing crowds of visitors seeking springtime beauty.

More than 500 mu (over 33 hectares) of tulips, featuring more than 100 varieties and 56 color palettes, have unfolded at the food of the Chaya Mountain Scenic Area in Suiping County.

Visitors wandered through the vibrant fields, snapping photos and immersing themselves in the joys of spring.

"It's so beautiful here with all these colorful tulips. I've taken lots of photos and videos. Being out in nature during this warm spring weather just makes me feel so happy," said Xiao Li, a visitor.

This year, more than four million tulips have been planted. To extend the boom, gardeners have implemented staggered planting techniques. As a result, the tulip bloom is expected to last until late April.

Beyond the flowers, the scenic area has added sunny lawns, photo spots, and leisure facilities, turning the tulip fields into a perfect destination for both sightseeing and relaxation.

The approach has also brought welcome economic benefits to local villagers and created job opportunities.

Vibrant tulip fields in full bloom in central China's Henan