Thai PM performs love song at lunch hosted by Chinese counterpart

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul surprised officials in Beijing by performing the classic Chinese love song "Tian Mi Mi" (Sweet Honey) during a lunch hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, in the latest display of what has been dubbed his "musical diplomacy."

The performance came at the conclusion of Charnvirakul's first official visit to China, during which he also travelled to Shanghai and met Chinese President Xi Jinping, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Independent.

Photos published by Thai media showed the prime minister singing into a microphone at a banquet table as Li, senior Chinese officials and other guests applauded. Thai and Chinese national flags were displayed in the background.

The appearance adds to a series of musical performances by the Thai leader during overseas engagements.

Earlier this month, Charnvirakul played the saxophone while Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sang "My Way," the song popularised by Frank Sinatra, during a joint appearance. The performance quickly went viral online, with one social media user describing it as an episode of "ASEAN Idol."

During a visit to Hanoi in June, the Thai premier joined local musicians and played a traditional Vietnamese instrument in front of Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

At a government dinner, musicians performed several Thai songs, including "Sabai Sabai" by Bird Thongchai, using traditional Vietnamese instruments. Charnvirakul joined the ensemble for at least two songs.

The Thai prime minister is known to play several musical instruments, including the piano and the Thai flute, and is also a hobby pilot.

Although he comes from a wealthy construction family, Charnvirakul has sought to cultivate a more approachable public image.

On July 14, he also performed a duet of the Thai rock song "Som San" with singer Rattikarn "Praew" Amloy, better known as Nene Royal.

Nene gained international recognition after her audition on the 21st season of America's Got Talent, where she performed "Zombie" by The Cranberries while playing the electric guitar.

According to Nation Thailand, the Thai government later pledged financial support for her participation in the competition and discussed appointing her as a tourism ambassador to promote Thailand's image and cultural "soft power."

Earlier this year, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung also attracted attention by ending a bilateral summit in Japan with a joint drum performance featuring K-pop songs, including BTS's "Dynamite" and "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov