Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Visits Khon Kaen University to Strengthen Thai–Chinese Educational and Research Cooperation

11 December 2025
17:42

Khon Kaen University (KKU) hosted the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Thailand and the Chinese Consul-General in Khon Kaen Province for discussions on developing collaboration in education, research, innovation, and personnel exchange between KKU and leading Chinese institutions, aiming to elevate the Thai–Chinese friendship to a strategic level.

On 11 December 2025, Khon Kaen University, led by Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, along with Assoc. Prof. Nawarat Wara-aswapati, D.D.S., D.M.Sc., Vice President for International Affairs, and Asst. Prof. Acharawan Topark-Ngarm, Ph.D., Assistant to the President for International Affairs, and executives from 17 faculties and colleges, formally welcomed His Excellency H.E. Mr. Zhang Jianwei, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand, and Her Excellency Ms. Liu Hongmei, Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Khon Kaen.

The delegation also included representatives from the Chinese Embassy and Consulate-General. The visit, held at the Sarasin Meeting Room, 2nd Floor, Sirikunakorn Building, aimed to discuss potential avenues for developing Thai–Chinese cooperation in education, research, and innovation.

Strengthening Strategic Partnership

Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, expressed his pleasure in welcoming the Ambassador and emphasised the long-standing, robust relationship between Thailand and China. He highlighted that the recent official royal visit of His Majesty the King to the People’s Republic of China marked a significant milestone, elevating the cooperation between the two nations to a comprehensive strategic level.

The President noted that Khon Kaen University currently maintains cooperative agreements with over 56 leading Chinese institutions, executing more than 109 academic activities between 2011 and 2025 across various fields, including health sciences, science and technology, humanities, and social sciences. Currently, KKU hosts 402 full-time Chinese students and 221 exchange students, underscoring the university’s role as a vital Thai–Chinese cooperation centre in the Northeast region.

He pointed specifically to the prominent partnerships, such as the Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University, which has been operating in collaboration with Southwest University for over 19 years, playing a key role in disseminating Chinese language and culture in the region. Another essential collaboration is the KKU–SWJTU Tianyou Railway Institute with Southwest Jiaotong University, dedicated to developing personnel in rail systems and high-speed rail—a strategic sector for Thailand.

H.E. Mr. Zhang Jianwei, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand — H.E. Mr. Zhang Jianwei, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand

Expanding Cooperation in High Technology and Digital Economy

For his part, H.E. Mr. Zhang Jianwei, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Thailand, commended Khon Kaen University’s potential as a leading educational institution in Thailand. He stressed that 2025 is considered the “Golden Year of Thai–Chinese Relations,” with both countries committed to expanding cooperation in all dimensions, particularly education, green technology, the digital economy, and research collaboration.

The Ambassador emphasised the importance of producing highly skilled personnel in advanced technology fields, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). This aligns with the development direction outlined in China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and represents a new area for collaboration between the universities of both nations.

He also praised the Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026. He proposed strategic enhancement measures, including integrating the Institute’s role into the university’s overall strategy, developing joint curricula, and strengthening collaboration with Chinese partner institutions.
In his concluding remarks, the President of Khon Kaen University sincerely thanked the Ambassador for his strategic recommendations. He reaffirmed the university’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Confucius Institute and advancing cooperation in education, research, innovation, digital technology, green technology, medicine, and rail systems, ensuring mutual benefit for Thailand and China and sustainable development for the Isan region.