Music as a diplomatic tool: Thai prime minister stuns with his performance in Beijing

During an official visit to the Chinese capital, Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, became the center of attention by performing a song at a state banquet hosted by his counterpart, Li Keqiang.

Footage released by his office shows the moment Anutin, seated beside Li at the official table, holds a microphone and performs a timeless melody by Taiwanese icon Teresa Teng. Accompanied by the sounds of the piano, he received a warm ovation from the guests, as the Chinese premier and the rest of the audience watched with visible admiration.

This is not the first time Anutin has turned music into a part of his diplomatic meetings. Just a few weeks earlier, at an official bilateral meeting, he played the saxophone for Frank Sinatra’s iconic song “My Way,” while Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, sang it.

Also, in June, during a visit to Hanoi, the Thai leader sat down to play a traditional Vietnamese instrument alongside local artists, under the gaze of Vietnam’s head of government.

Anutin, who assumed the leadership of the government in September and secured the mandate through parliamentary elections in February, comes from a prominent family in the construction industry. Nevertheless, he has worked to build the profile of a leader close to the people, intertwining his political career with his love for musical art.

Beyond singing, Anutin is also an amateur pilot and masters several musical instruments, such as the piano, saxophone, and traditional Thai flute. Recently, he performed with a young Thai whose performance on “America’s Got Talent” had taken social media by storm.