(Guiyang, August 29-31, 2023) - As one of the opening activities of the 2023 China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week, the 5th Forum on China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation was successfully held in Guiyang, Guizhou Province. More than 150 government officials, representatives from the education sector, university presidents, young students, as well as professionals in agriculture and food industry from China and Thailand gathered together to explore cooperation and exchange in the field of higher education between the two countries.

With China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) as the advisory institution, the forum was jointly organized by Jiangsu University and the Alliance of China-Thailand Universities (ACTU), and hosted by Guizhou University and Guiyang College, with the co-organization of East and West International Education Group. With the theme of "Promoting Digital Education Cooperation and Deepening University Connectivity", the forum aimed to promote cooperation in digital education and development in higher education between China and Thailand, as well as deepen talent cultivation and exchange between the two sides.

The forum featured thematic discussions on China-Thailand university curriculum cooperation, a presidential forum for China-Thailand universities, an agriculture and food industry forum, and a young scholars' seminar. Additionally, a signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between Southwest Jiaotong University and Kong Jeng University, as well as the handover ceremony for the Chinese Co-Chairmanship of ACTU were held. Professor Yan Xiaohong, former president of Jiangsu University, was presented with the honorary certificate as the first Chairman of the China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation Alliance.

Of particular note is that against the backdrop of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, this forum proposed the establishment of the “Digital Education Development and Cooperation Professional Committee” and the “College-Enterprise Cooperation Professional Committee” for higher education institutions in China and Thailand. The proposal received unanimous approval and active support from the representatives in attendance. The establishment of these two professional committees will help strengthen in-depth cooperation between China and Thailand in the fields of digital education and industry-education integration, and jointly address the challenges of future educational development. In addition, this forum also issued an initiative for “Promoting Higher Education Quality and Facilitating High-Level Exchange between China-Thailand universities.”

During the China-Thailand University Presidents Forum, Professor Cai Yingfeng, Vice President of Jiangsu University, Dr. Pornchai Mongkhonvanit, President of Siam University, Professor Zhang Jianhua, Vice President of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Professor Somtawin Jaritkhuan, Vice-President of Burapha University, Dr. Pornchanit Kaew-Nate, Vice-President of Suan Dusit University, and Professor Ren Jie, Vice President of Guizhou Normal University, along with other guests, actively explored new models of digital education and advocated for university interconnectivity and collaboration in the future development of higher education. The university presidents agreed that there is strong complementarity between higher education in China and Thailand. Developing digital education in universities and strengthening interconnectivity between universities is of vital significance to broaden channels for educational exchange and cooperation between the two countries, improve the level of higher education development, and promote regional common development.

During the China-Thailand University Curriculum Cooperation Colloquium, representatives from both sides discussed topics such as curriculum design and teaching quality assessment in depth, sharing their experiences and practices. The Agriculture and Food Industry Forum focused on hot topics such as agricultural technology and food safety, providing new ideas for cooperation and development in the agricultural and food sectors between the two countries. As a highlight of the event, after the University Presidents Forum, two Chinese students and two Thai students studying in China were invited to speak. They shared their learning and life experiences and put forward their expectations and suggestions for future exchange and cooperation between China and Thailand.

Mr. Liu Baoli, Executive Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the Organizing Committee of the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW), stated in his closing speech that the China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week has become an important institutionalized platform for connectivity, mutual learning, and mutual exchange in the field of education between China and ASEAN. It has made significant contributions to deepening the strategic partnership between China and ASEAN. In the future, the “CAECW” will continue to expand its scope and play a more active role in various fields and on a larger scale. He said that the Forum on China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation has played an important role in promoting collaboration between Chinese and Thai universities over the past five years. It has become a flagship event of the “CAECW”. He expressed his anticipation for the forum to play an even greater role as the “CAECW” platform expands and extends. Furthermore, he commended that the flexible format, rich content, and fruitful outcomes of the current edition of the Forum showcased richness in content and fruitful outcomes - a remarkable achievement worth celebrating!

Since its inception in 2019, the Forum on China-Thailand Higher Education Cooperation has witnessed more than 20 cooperation agreements between Chinese and Thai universities across its five editions. In 2022, the Forum was honored with an Award of Brand Contribution Award Project by CAECW, further enhancing its influence. The participants of the 5th Forum unanimously believe that this forum once again demonstrates the deep friendship and solid foundation of friendly cooperation between China and Thailand in the field of higher education. It has provided a valuable opportunity and opens up broader prospects for future cooperation in higher education between the two countries. Participants expressed their anticipation for even more fruitful results in the cooperation and their commitment to making greater contributions to promoting regional and global development together.