China congratulates Anutin Charnvirakul on re-election as Thailand's Prime Minister

Beijing (ANTARA) - China’s Foreign Ministry has congratulated Anutin Charnvirakul on his re-election as Thailand’s Prime Minister.

“China congratulates Prime Minister Anutin on his re-election. We believe that under his leadership, Thailand will achieve even more brilliant accomplishments in national development,” said Spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Lin Jian during a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Anutin Charnvirakul from the Bhumjaithai Party was re-elected as Thailand’s Prime Minister on Thursday (19/3).

Thailand’s House of Representatives re-elected Anutin (59) after he received support from around 293 members of parliament in the 500-seat lower house. His closest rival received 119 votes, while 86 members of parliament abstained.

“China and Thailand are close friends and neighbours, and have formed a community with a shared future. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Thailand relations have consistently maintained positive momentum, and practical cooperation has yielded tangible results in various fields,” Lin Jian stated.

China, Lin Jian said, is ready to work with Thailand to earnestly implement the important consensuses reached by the leaders of the two countries, continue the tradition of close friendship and family-like ties between the two peoples.

“We are also ready to deepen the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future and deliver more tangible benefits to the people of both countries,” Lin Jian added.

Anutin is Thailand’s 32nd Prime Minister. He was first elected as Prime Minister on 5 September 2025.

There were 497 members of the lower house present, and at least 249 votes were needed to win the Prime Minister election.

In last month’s election, Anutin’s conservative Bhumjaithai Party won 193 seats, making it the largest party in the 500-seat lower house, though still short of the 251 seats needed to form a government independently.

Meanwhile, the People’s Party won 118 seats, Pheu Thai, backed by former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, secured 74 seats, and the Democrat Party won 22 seats.

Subsequently, the Pheu Thai Party announced its support for Anutin as Prime Minister.