BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul attended a reception in Bangkok celebrating Russia Day, the national day of the Russian Federation, where he reaffirmed Thailand’s long-standing friendship with Russia. Held at the Shangri-La Hotel on June 11, the event also commemorated 129 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Anutin, accompanied by his spouse and high-ranking officials, described Russia as one of Thailand’s oldest international partners and referenced the historic relationship between King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and Tsar Nicholas II as a symbol of the enduring ties between the two nations. He also said Thailand and Russia are preparing to convene a meeting of the Thailand–Russia Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation later this year.
The prime minister is scheduled to travel to Kazan next week to attend the ASEAN–Russia Summit, where he is expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on bilateral and regional matters. The visit comes amid continued cooperation between the two countries in trade, tourism, culture, and economic development. Russian Ambassador to Thailand Evgeny Tomikhin said relations between Thailand and Russia continue to expand across several sectors. He reported that 1.9 million Russian visitors traveled to Thailand in 2025, while more than one million arrivals were recorded during the first half of 2026. Both countries are also preparing to commemorate the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year. (NNT)
