Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand, has invited Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, for an official visit next year, he said in Beijing on Wednesday.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has tossed Putin into international isolation, leaving him with few partners.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin over the alleged deportations of thousands of Ukraine’s children to Russia.
Thailand — which is not a state party to the ICC Rome Statute — was selected to maintain cooperation with Russia.
Srettha and Putin met on the sidelines of China’s Belt and Road Initiative forum on Tuesday night and discussed strengthening trade and cultural relations.
Srettha said on Wednesday, “I invited him to visit Thailand next year. President Putin likes Phuket, I understand he travels often,” referring to a Thai resort island.
Vladimir Putin has accepted the invitation, but a date has yet to be set, according to a Thai government statement.
According to the TASS Russian news agency, Putin lamented a decline, during the meeting with Sretthain, in bilateral trade due to a “turbulent international situation.”
More than a million Russians visited tourism-dependent Thailand this year.
Thailand recently made changes to its visa arrangements to permit Russians to visit the kingdom for up to three months — an addition from 30 days.
Thailand joined China and India in refraining at a UN General Assembly vote last year to criticize Russia’s annexation of parts of Ukraine.
