The 4th Forum on China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation, jointly organized by Jiangsu University (JSU), the Secretariat of Alliance of China-Thailand Universities (ACTU), Guizhou University, and Guiyang College, was held successfully at the permanent venue of China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week in Guiyang from August 22 to 24.

With the theme of “Opening a New Stage of Cooperation and Building a Development Community for a Shared Future”,the forum held a series of activities, including the opening ceremony of the Forum, the China-Thailand University Presidents' Forum, the China-Thailand Academic Forum on Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Food, Seminar on China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation-Innovation & Practice, and the International Youth Forum. More than 150 Chinese and Thai higher education leaders, experts, and representatives from nearly 100 universities attended the event online and offline.

At the Opening ceremony, Former Vice-Minister of Education of China and Chairman of China Education Association for International Exchange(CEAIE), Mr. Liu Limin, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation of Thailand, Dr. Anek Laothamatas, Minister Counsellor (Science & Technology), Royal Thai Embassy in China, Dr. Pasupha Chinvarasopak, Education Counsellor, Chinese Embassy in Thailand, Mrs. Feng Junying, President of JSU and ACTU Co-Chair, Prof. Yan Xiaohong, President of Siam University and ACTU Co-Chair, Dr. Pornchai Mongkhonvanit, Vice-President of Guizhou University, Prof. Zhou Shaoqi, Vice-President of Guiyang University, Prof. Liu Gang delivered speeches respectively, underlining that China and Thailand are geographically close, enjoy frequent cultural and people-to-people exchanges, trust and support each other. Universities of the two countries should continue to enrich and innovate exchange models, further expand the scale of visits between young teachers and students, carry on the friendly tradition of “China and Thailand are one family”, and jointly build a community with a shared future for “China-Thailand” citizens.

President Yan Xiaohong believes that in the past three years, not only the alliance team but also the cooperation between the alliance members has been further strengthened, which has had a positive impact. JSU will deepen the cooperation in promoting the training and exchange of young talents between China and Thailand, deepening the cooperation in scientific research and technology, and promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The ACTU Agriculture & Food Committee was established at the forum, and a MOU on Cooperation Projects has been signed between Dalian Ocean University and Prince of Songkla University and between Foshan University and the Asian Institute of Technology of Thailand.

Chaired by Zhao Yutao, Vice President of JSU, the presidents of 10 universities from China and Thailand held discussions on the innovation of Sino-Thai higher education cooperation models, ways of joint talent training, and work-study dual programs. President Yan Xiaohong gave a speech on “Practice and Exploration on Deepening International Cooperation and Exchange among Universities in the New Era”.

Naparat Kasetsomboon, a Thai doctoral student of JSU, attended the International Youth Forum. Prof. Ma Zheng, Director of the Research Institute of Field Harvesting Equipment of JSU, delivered a speech at the China-Thailand Academic Forum on Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Food.

The forum received extensive media attention. The Guizhou Provincial television station interviewed President Yan Xiaohong during the forum.

The ACTU was formally established in 2020. It is committed to promoting China-Thailand higher education cooperation within the framework of the “Belt and Road Initiatives” and Thailand's National Development Strategy, promoting higher education to serve regional economic development, and promoting the expansion and deepening of higher education exchanges between China and ASEAN through China-Thailand cooperation.