From Sept. 24 to 25, the 3rd Forum on China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation & 2021 Alliance of China-Thailand Universities (ACTU) Assembly was held at Guiyang. This forum is one of the series of activities of the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week in 2021. It is hosted by Jiangsu University (JSU), the Chinese Chairman Unit of ACTU, in joint efforts with the Secretariat of ACTU and Guizhou University.

The forum had three sub-forums including the China-Thailand University Presidents Forum, the China-Thailand Agricultural and Food Sustainable Development Academic Forum, and the China-Thailand Outstanding Youth Student Forum. Sino-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation MOU Signing Ceremony was also held. The signing ceremony of the alliance members and the China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Roundtable Conference have jointly promoted the continuous exchanges between the two countries and the advancement of cooperation in the field of higher education. More than 360 representatives from over 140 universities in China and Thailand participated in this forum online or on the spot.

On Sept. 24, Mr. Liu Limin, Chairman of China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), Former Vice-Minister of Education of China, Dr. Anek Laothamatas, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of Thailand, Mr. Du Kewei, Director-General of China Center for International People-to-People Exchange, Ministry of Education of China, Mrs. Wang Hui, Chairwoman of Guizhou Provincial Education Union, Prof. Yan Xiaohong, President of JSU and Chinese Co-Chairman of ACTU, Dr. Pornchai Mongkhonvanit, President of Siam University and Thai Co-Chairman of ACTU, Prof. Li Jianjun, Party Secretary of Guizhou University, and Mrs. Feng Junying, Education Counselor, Chinese Embassy in Thailand delivered speeches respectively at the opening ceremony. Also present at the opening ceremony were Mr. Wang Yongli, Secretary General of CEAIE, Mr. Yu Yougen, Deputy Secretary-General of CEAIE, Prof. Li Junqi, Vice-President of Guizhou University, Prof. Zhao Yutao, Vice-President of JSU, and representatives of member universities of ACTU. The opening ceremony was presided over by E, Xuewen, Secretary-General of ACTU.

At the MOU Signing Ceremony, Prof. Zhao Yutao, on behalf of JSU, signed MOU on Joint Establishment of International Laboratory between JSU and Chiang Mai University. Beijing Language and Culture University and Siam University signed MOU on Joint Establishment of International College of Chinese Language. Guizhou University and Mae Fah Luang University, Guizhou Institute of Technology and North-Chiang Mai University signed MOU on Cooperation Projects on bilateral cooperation, respectively. The signing ceremony was presided over by Prof. Pan Jianfeng, Director of International Office of JSU.

At the China-Thailand University Presidents Forum hosted by Prof. Zhao Yutao, the presidents of 13 universities in China and Thailand focused on the theme of Exploring New Models in the Post-Pandemic Era for Promoting Sino-Thai Higher Education Cooperation in the View of “Belt and Road” Initiative, and carried out in-depth exchanges and discussions on the sustainable development of higher education cooperation, the development trend of international education in the post-epidemic era, and the new model of Sino-Thai university cooperation under the "Belt and Road" initiative have carried out in-depth exchanges and discussions.

The ACTU was formally established in 2020. It is committed to promoting China-Thailand higher education exchanges and cooperation within the framework of the “Belt and Road” construction and Thailand’s national development strategy, and promoting higher education to serve regional economic development. The ongoing cooperation has helped to deepen the higher education exchanges between China and ASEAN. Based on the alliance platform, JSU will carry out international talent cultivation and scientific research cooperation around the "Belt and Road" people-to-people bond, further deepen the education cooperation between China, Thailand and ASEAN countries, and strive to write a new chapter in international education cooperation.