Xi congratulates new king of Thailand

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday congratulated Maha Vajiralongkorn on his enthronement as king of Thailand.

In a message, Xi said that the two countries are close and friendly neighbors, the notion that "China and Thailand are one family" has taken root among the two peoples and the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation has been continuously deepened.

The Thai royal family has long attached great importance to China-Thailand relations and has played an irreplaceable role in the cause of China-Thailand friendship, Xi said.

Xi expressed his willingness to work with King Vajiralongkorn to continuously boost bilateral relations to benefit the two peoples, noting that Vajiralongkorn has consistently pushed for the development of the China-Thailand friendly relations.

Vajiralongkorn was enthroned Thursday and was proclaimed King Rama X, or the 10th king of the Chakri dynasty founded in 1782.