On 30 June 2010, the first day of the official visit to the People’s Republic of China to attend the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the People’s Republic of China which was held in Beijing between 30 June to 1 July 2010, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met with Chinese’s Vice Minister of Education, gave interviews to the CCTV News and the China Radio International (CRI), as well as had a meeting with the Thai businessmen in China.
During his meeting with Mr. Hao Ping, Chinese Vice Minister of Education, Foreign Minister Kasit informed the Chinese side of the Royal Thai Government’s policies on Thailand’s educational reform to transform the Thai society to become a knowledge-based one, particularly in the areas of research and development. As for the cooperation on education between the two countries which, at present, there are 8,993 Chinese students in Thailand and around 12,000 Thai students in China. The major cooperation in this area covered science and technology, and implementation of the Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Academic Degrees in Higher Education between the Ministry of Education of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Education of the government of the People’s Republic of China. The Thai side took this opportunity to request China to consider extending the said agreement which the term has expired in May 2010. The Chinese side agreed with the proposal and propose to sign the agreement to extend cooperation on the matter during the China-ASEAN Education Ministers Round Table Conference to be held in China on 2 August 2010.
The Thai Foreign Minister also asked the Chinese side to consider increasing the names of the Thai Universities, ratified by the Ministry of Education of Thailand, in the official websites of the Chinese authorities concerned. The Chinese side agreed in principal and would start posting all names of the Thai public universities on its websites before consider posting names of the Thai private academic institutes accordingly. The Thai Foreign Minister extended an invitation to the Chinese Vice Minister of Education to visit Thailand for a study tour to see the efficiency and credibility of the Thai universities. Both sides also agreed to set up the “Thai-Chinese Working Group on Education Cooperation”, to be co-chaired by the Thai Ambassador to China. The Working Group will review various agreements on education and follow-up the progress of educational cooperation between Thailand and China, especially in the areas of research and development.
Later, Foreign Minister Kasit gave interviews to the CCTV News Television and the China Radio International (CRI) Thai language section. He explained the commitment of the Royal Thai Government in resolving the political situation and the latest development of the political situation in Thailand, including the progress of reconciliation plan and enforcement of the rules of law, and determination of the Royal Thai Government in developing the Thai politics in the democratic way.
In the evening, Foreign Minister Kasit met with the Thai businessmen in China and told them that he has traveled to many countries to explain the latest development of the political situation in Thailand. He also received a briefing from the Thai businessmen on the development and problems of doing business in China. The Thai Foreign Minister instructed the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing to be an information center for the Thai businessmen, both members and non-members of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, in China. The center will play an important role in helping the new Thai businessmen to do business in China. On this occasion, the Foreign Minister also hosted a dinner for the Thai businessmen.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th