TV series Haitang Yijiu commemorates the 118th anniversary of former premier Zhou Enlai's birth and 95 years of the founding of the Communist Party of China. [Photo provided to China Daily]

At a function to promote a Chinese TV series held at the Great Hall of the People on Sunday, Sirin Phathanothai was heard telling her husband about the various politician characters in it.

"He stars as Xi Zhongxun, the father of the Chinese president, ... and this man plays Deng Xiaoping," murmurs Phathanothai to Anton Smitsendonk, a former diplomat, during a preview of the series.

Under the guardianship of China's former premier Zhou Enlai, Phathanothai spent most of her youth in China from 1956 to 1970, and has played a key role in building ties between her native country, Thailand, and China. She is said to be familiar with famous Chinese politicians from that period.

Now, decades after their stay in China, the TV series Haitang Yijiu (Crab Apple Still There) features the experiences of Phathanothai and her brother, Warnwai Phathanothai.

The 41-episode series, chronicling Zhou's life from 1949 to 1976, will debut on China Central Television on July 4, to commemorate both the 118th anniversary of Zhou's birth and 95 years of the founding of the Communist Party of China.